Tacoma Narrows Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW · KTIW) is 1,295 ft MSL · 1,000 AGL as published by the FAA, and 35 is charted right traffic.

All of Tacoma Narrows Airport — runways, frequencies, charts and live weather

Pattern diagram

Drawn to scale from the FAA NASR runway alignments and the per end right traffic flags — pick a runway to see its pattern. Live wind picks the favored runway when KTIW reports it.

RWY 17LEFT traffic

Heading: 167° mag · 187° true
Dimensions: 5,002 × 100 ft
TPA: 1,295 ft MSL · 1,000 AGL · charted
Surface: Asphalt
Lights: 4-light PAPI (right) (3°) + MALSR
ILS: ILS · CAT I · LOC 109.1 (TIW) · GS 3.00°
CTAF: 118.5

More details — RWY 17

Threshold elev: 292 ft
Markings: precision
Threshold crossing height: 52 ft
TDZ elevation: 295 ft

Condition: Good. Edge lights: Med. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 50k, Double wheel 80k, Dual tandem 80k, Double dual tandem 150k.

Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA charted (NASR) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates

Pattern direction by runway

Runway	Pattern	Heading	Pattern altitude
17	Left traffic	167° mag	1,295 ft MSL · 1,000 AGL
35	Right traffic	347° mag	1,295 ft MSL · 1,000 AGL

Pattern altitude is published for KTIW in the FAA NASR data. Headings are the runway alignment; downwind is the reciprocal.

Flying the pattern at KTIW

Tacoma Narrows Airport is towered, working 118.5. Contact the tower before entering the surface area and fly the pattern you are assigned — the directions below are the charted default when no instruction is given.

Watch the right traffic ends here: 35. A right pattern at a field where the other end is left is the single most common place to end up pointing at opposing traffic. The full entry procedure is here →

Frequently asked

What is the traffic pattern altitude at KTIW?

The FAA publishes a traffic pattern altitude of 1,000 ft AGL for Tacoma Narrows Airport, which is 1,295 ft MSL on the altimeter with the field at 295 ft.

Does KTIW have right traffic?

Yes, on one runway end: 35. Every other end at Tacoma Narrows Airport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KTIW?

Tacoma Narrows Airport is towered (118.5), so the pattern shown here is the charted default — but the controller's instruction overrides it. Expect straight in approaches, base entries and midfield crossings as traffic dictates.

More about KTIW

Pattern direction and alignment are drawn from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle); the diagram is generated, not an FAA chart. Pattern altitude is shown as published where NASR carries one, otherwise as the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention. For planning and education only; always verify against the Chart Supplement.