To assure that air traffic flows into and out of an airport in an orderly manner, an airport traffic pattern is established appropriate to the local conditions, including the direction and placement of the pattern, the altitude at which it is to be flown, and the procedures for entering and leaving the pattern. Unless the airport displays approved visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, the pilot should make all turns in the pattern to the left.
When operating at an airport with a control tower, the pilot receives, by radio, a clearance to approach or depart as well as pertinent information about the traffic pattern. If there is no control tower, it is the pilot's responsibility to determine the direction of the traffic pattern, to comply with the appropriate traffic rules, and to display common courtesy toward other pilots operating in the area.
The pilot is not expected to have intimate knowledge of all traffic patterns at all airports, but if familiar with the basic rectangular pattern, it will be easy to make proper approaches and departures from most airports, regardless of whether they have control towers. At tower controlled airports, the tower operator may instruct pilots to enter the traffic pattern at any point or to make a straight-in approach without flying the usual rectangular pattern. Many other deviations are possible if the tower operator and the pilot work together in an effort to keep traffic moving smoothly. It must be recognized that jets or large, heavy aircraft will frequently be flying wider and/or higher patterns than lighter aircraft and in many cases will make a straight-in approach for landing.
Compliance with the basic rectangular traffic pattern reduces
the possibility of conflicts at airports where air traffic is not being
controlled by an FAA control tower. While accident statistics for each
year show an improvement over previous years, it is known that the majority
of midair collisions occur in the vicinity of nontower airports, under
visual flight rules (VFR) weather conditions. It is imperative then, that
the pilot form the habit of exercising constant vigilance in the vicinity
of airports even though the air traffic appears to be light.
| The basic rectangular traffic pattern is illustrated in
Fig. 7-2. The traffic pattern altitude is usually 1,000 feet above the
elevation of the airport surface. The use of a common altitude at a given
airport is the key factor in minimizing the risk of collisions at nontower
airports. At all airports, the direction of traffic flow (in accordance
with FAR Part 91) is always to the left, unless right turns are indicated
by approved light signals or visual markings on the airport, or the control
tower specifically directs otherwise.
It is recommended that while operating in the traffic pattern at nontower airports the pilot maintain an airspeed that conforms with the limits established by FAR 91 for tower controlled airports: no more than 156 knots (180 MPH) for reciprocating engine |
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The basic rectangular traffic pattern consists of four "legs" positioned in relation to the runway in use. In the following discussion, reference is made to a "90 degree turn" from one leg to the other since the ground track of each leg is perpendicular to the preceding one. The actual change in the airplane's heading during those turns will be more or less than 90 degrees depending on the amount of correction necessary to counteract wind drift.
The upwind leg of the rectangular pattern is a straight
course aligned with, and leading from, the takeoff runway. This leg begins
at the point the airplane leaves the ground and continues until the 90
degree turn onto the crosswind leg is started.
On the upwind leg after takeoff, the pilot should continue
climbing straight ahead until reaching a point beyond the departure end
of the runway and within 300 feet of traffic pattern altitude. If leaving
the pattern, the pilot should continue straight ahead, or depart by making
a 45 degree left turn (right turn for a right-hand pattern).
The crosswind leg is the part of the rectangular pattern that is horizontally perpendicular to the extended centerline of the takeoff runway and is entered by making a 90 degree turn from the upwind leg. On the crosswind leg the airplane proceeds to the downwind leg position.
Since in most cases the takeoff is made into the wind, the wind now will be approximately perpendicular to the airplane's flightpath. As a result, the airplane will have to be crabbed or headed slightly into the wind while on the cross wind leg to maintain a ground track that is perpendicular to the runway centerline extension. This factor will be further explained in a later chapter covering wind drift and maneuvering by reference to ground objects.
After reaching the prescribed altitude for the traffic pattern and when in the proper position to enter the downwind leg, a level medium bank 90 degree turn should be made into the downwind leg.
The downwind leg is a course flown parallel to the landing runway, but in a direction opposite to the intended landing direction. This leg should be approximately 1/2 to 1 mile out from the landing runway, and at the specified traffic pattern altitude. During this leg, the prelanding check should be completed and the landing gear extended if retractable. The downwind leg continues past a point abeam of the approach end of the runway to where a medium bank 90 degree turn is made onto the base leg.
The base leg is the transitional part of the traffic pattern between the downwind leg and the final approach leg. Depending on the wind condition, it is established at a sufficient distance from the approach end of the landing runway to permit a gradual descent to the intended touchdown point. The ground track of the airplane while on the base leg should be perpendicular to the extended centerline of the landing runway, although the longitudinal axis of the airplane may not be aligned with the ground track when it is necessary to crab into the wind to counteract drift. (This will be discussed in the chapter on Landing Approaches and Landings.) While on the base leg the pilot must ensure, before turning onto the final approach, that there is no danger of colliding with another aircraft that may be already on the final approach.
As stipulated in Federal Aviation Regulations, aircraft while on final approach to land, or while landing, have the right of way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface. When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right of way, but it shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land, or to overtake that aircraft.
The final approach leg is a descending flightpath starting
from the completion of the base to final turn and extending to the point
of touchdown. This is probably the most important leg of the entire pattern,
for here the pilot's judgment and technique must be keenest to accurately
control the airspeed and decent angle while approaching the intended touchdown
point. The various aspects are thoroughly explained in the chapter on Landing
Approaches and Landings.
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To enter the traffic pattern at an airport without a control
tower, inbound pilots are expected to observe other aircraft already in
the pattern and to conform to the traffic pattern in use. If no other aircraft
are in the pattern, then traffic indicators on the ground and wind indicators
must be checked to determine which runway and traffic pattern direction
should be used (Fig. 7-3).
Many airports have L shaped traffic pattern indicators displayed with a segmented circle adjacent to the runway. The short member of the L shows the direction in which the traffic pattern turns should be made when using the runway parallel to the long member. |
| For example, in Fig. 7-4, the airplane should fly a right
hand pattern. These indicators should, of course, be checked while at a
distance well away from any pattern that might be in use, or while at a
safe height well above generally used pattern altitudes. When the proper
traffic pattern direction has been determined, the pilot should then proceed
to a point well clear of the pattern before descending to the pattern altitude.
Generally, when approaching an airport for landing, the traffic pattern should be entered at a 45 degree angle to the downwind leg, headed toward a point abeam of the midpoint of the runway to be used for landing. |
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The entry leg should be of sufficient length to provide a clear view of the entire traffic pattern, and to allow the pilot adequate time for planning the intended path in the pattern and the landing approach.