New Castle International traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at New Castle International (VA85) is 2,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 36 is charted right traffic. · Open on the map

All of New Castle International — 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 VA85 reports it.

RWY 18LEFT traffic

Heading: 180° mag · 174° true
Dimensions: 2,400 × 100 ft
TPA: 2,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Turf

Enter the left downwind (heading 000°) on the 45° at 2,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL).

Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: schematic (headings + lengths)

Pattern direction by runway

Runway	Pattern	Heading	Pattern altitude
18	Left traffic	180° mag	2,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
36	Right traffic	000° mag	2,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for VA85; 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 VA85

New Castle International is non towered. AC 90-66B asks for a report on entry and on each leg, and for the standard 45° entry to downwind at pattern altitude.

Watch the right traffic ends here: 36. 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 VA85?

New Castle International 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 2,300 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 VA85 have right traffic?

Yes, on one runway end: 36. Every other end at New Castle International is standard left traffic.

More about VA85

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.

Something here wrong or out of date? Report a data problem.