Runway 21 at KL17
Runway 21/03 at Taft Kern County Airport (KL17) in Taft is a 1,570 ft, unlit, asphalt runway oriented 229°/049°. The runway is 60 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 11 landings and 0 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 1.7°, a typical touchdown ground speed of 95 kt, a 2.5 kt average crosswind component, a 1.4 kt average tailwind.
Runway 21/03 at Taft Kern County Airport (KL17) in Taft is a 1,570 ft, unlit, asphalt runway oriented 229°/049°. The runway is 60 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 11 landings and 0 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 1.7°, a typical touchdown ground speed of 95 kt, a 2.5 kt average crosswind component, a 1.4 kt average tailwind.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
11 landings observed on Runway 21 in the last 30 days, alongside 0 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 21:00 with 7 arrivals on the recent sample.
Light Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 2.5 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 21 alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 1.7° on Runway 21, shallower than the standard 3°.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 21 over the last 30 days. Each value is shown only when at least 10 valid samples were available; sparse cells are hidden rather than estimated.
Hourly Landing Distribution
Recent observed landings on Runway 21 grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Approach Types and Categories
Aircraft approach runways using different procedures based on weather conditions, visibility, and available navigation equipment. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach provides precision horizontal and vertical guidance using ground-based radio signals, enabling aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. Visual approaches require pilots to maintain visual contact with the runway and surrounding terrain, typically used during clear weather. Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches use GPS technology to guide aircraft along specific flight paths.
Approach Categories Explained
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind and Environmental Factors
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 21 benefits from favorable wind alignment, with prevailing winds creating minimal crosswind components for most operations. Average wind speeds of 12 knots pose no operational constraints for commercial aircraft.
24-Hour Wind Pattern
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.