Tappahannock-Essex County Airport traffic pattern
Pattern altitude at Tappahannock-Essex County Airport (XSA · KXSA) 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 Tappahannock-Essex County Airport — runways, frequencies, charts and live weatherPattern 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 KXSA reports it.
RWY 10LEFT traffic
- Heading
- 097° mag · 086° true
- Dimensions
- 4,300 × 75 ft
- TPA
- 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
- Surface
- Asphalt
- Lights
- 2-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- CTAF
- 122.8
Enter the left downwind (heading 277°) on the 45° at 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL).
More details — RWY 10
- Threshold elev
- 135 ft
- Markings
- nonprecision
- Approach obstacle
- Trees, 106 ft, 2,374 ft from threshold, 308 ft L of centerline — 20:1 slope to clear
- Threshold crossing height
- 40 ft
- TDZ elevation
- 135 ft
- End lights
- REIL
Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates
Pattern direction by runway
| Runway | Pattern | Heading | Pattern altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Left traffic | 097° mag | 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 28 | Left traffic | 277° mag | 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
No pattern altitude is published for KXSA; 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 KXSA
Tappahannock-Essex County Airport is non towered, so the pattern is self announced on CTAF 122.8. AC 90-66B asks for a report on entry and on each leg, and for the standard 45° entry to downwind at pattern altitude.
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 KXSA?
Tappahannock-Essex County 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 KXSA have right traffic?
No. All 2 runway ends at Tappahannock-Essex County Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.
What frequency is the pattern on at KXSA?
Tappahannock-Essex County Airport is non towered, so pattern position reports go on the CTAF, 122.8. AC 90-66B asks for self announcing on entry and on each leg.
More about KXSA
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.