Lihue Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Lihue Airport (LIH · PHLI) is 1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 03, 35 are charted right traffic.

All of Lihue 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 PHLI reports it.

RWY 17LEFT traffic

Heading: 169° mag · 180° true
Dimensions: 6,500 × 150 ft
TPA: 1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Asphalt
Lights: 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
CTAF: 118.9

More details — RWY 17

Threshold elev: 91 ft
Markings: precision
Threshold crossing height: 54 ft
TDZ elevation: 98 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 6,500 / 6,500 / 6,500 / 6,500 ft
End lights: REIL

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

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
03	Right traffic	034° mag	1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
21	Left traffic	214° mag	1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
17	Left traffic	169° mag	1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35	Right traffic	349° mag	1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for PHLI; 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 PHLI

Lihue Airport is towered, working 118.9. 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: 03, 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 PHLI?

Lihue 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 1,200 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 PHLI have right traffic?

Yes, on 2 runway ends: 03, 35. Every other end at Lihue Airport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at PHLI?

Lihue Airport is towered (118.9), 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 PHLI

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.