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Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS · KVPS) is 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and every runway end is standard left traffic.

All of Destin-Fort Walton Beach 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 KVPS reports it.

5,000 ftNMNxw 033°downwind 303°base 213°final 123°45° entry12203002

RWY 12LEFT traffic

Heading
123° mag · 120° true
Dimensions
12,004 × 300 ft
TPA
1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface
ASPH-CONC
Lights
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
More details — RWY 12
Threshold elev
83 ft
Markings
precision
Threshold crossing height
50 ft
TDZ elevation
84 ft
Arresting gear
BAK-12B

Condition: Excellent. Edge lights: High. PCN 45.

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

Pattern direction by runway

RunwayPatternHeadingPattern altitude
02 Left traffic 015° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
20 Left traffic 195° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
12 Left traffic 123° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
30 Left traffic 303° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KVPS; 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 KVPS

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is towered, working 118.2. 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.

All ends are left traffic, which is the FAR 91.126 default — turns to the left unless the field charts otherwise. The full entry procedure is here →

Frequently asked

What is the traffic pattern altitude at KVPS?

Destin-Fort Walton Beach 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 1,100 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 KVPS have right traffic?

No. All 4 runway ends at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KVPS?

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is towered (118.2), 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 KVPS

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.