McGhee Tyson Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS · KTYS) is 2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 23R, 05R are charted right traffic.

All of McGhee Tyson 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 KTYS reports it.

RWY 05LLEFT traffic

Heading: 051° mag · 045° true
Dimensions: 10,000 × 150 ft
TPA: 2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Concrete
Lights: 4-light PAPI (left) (3°) + MALSR
ILS: ILS · CAT I · LOC 110.3 (TYS) · GS 3.00°
Displaced thr: 490 ft
CTAF: 122.95

More details — RWY 05L

Threshold elev: 926 ft
Markings: precision
Threshold crossing height: 55 ft
TDZ elevation: 953 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 10,000 / 10,000 / 10,000 / 9,508 ft
End lights: centerline

Condition: Good. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 120k, Double wheel 250k, Dual tandem 550k, Double dual tandem 1120k.

Pattern side + displaced threshold: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates

Pattern direction by runway

Runway	Pattern	Heading	Pattern altitude
05L	Left traffic	051° mag	2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
23R	Right traffic	231° mag	2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
05R	Right traffic	051° mag	2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
23L	Left traffic	231° mag	2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KTYS; the figure above is the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention for propeller aircraft, rounded to the field. Turbine aircraft normally fly 1,500 ft AGL. Headings are the runway alignment; downwind is the reciprocal.

Flying the pattern at KTYS

McGhee Tyson Airport is towered, working 121.2. 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: 23R, 05R. 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 KTYS?

McGhee Tyson Airport has no traffic pattern altitude published in the FAA NASR data. The AC 90-66B convention for propeller aircraft is 1,000 ft AGL, which works out to roughly 2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) here — but confirm it against the Chart Supplement before you fly, since a field can have a non standard pattern altitude that NASR does not carry.

Does KTYS have right traffic?

Yes, on 2 runway ends: 23R, 05R. Every other end at McGhee Tyson Airport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KTYS?

McGhee Tyson Airport is towered (121.2), 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 KTYS

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.