Understanding Airport Pattern Altitude: A Guide To Determination

Pilots need to be aware of the correct pattern altitude when approaching an airport for landing. The Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA) is usually 1,000 feet above the airport elevation, but this is not always the case. To determine the TPA, pilots can refer to the Chart Supplement (formerly known as the Airport/Facility Directory or A/FD) for the specific airport. If the TPA is not listed, it is typically assumed to be 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL). However, it is important to note that airport owners and operators, in conjunction with the FAA, are responsible for establishing the traffic pattern at their airport, and pilots should always check the appropriate publications to ensure they are adhering to the correct TPA for their destination airport.

Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA) is usually 1,000 ft above the airport elevation

The Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA) is the altitude at which aircraft fly when approaching an airport for landing. The TPA is important for pilots to know as it helps them maintain a safe distance from other aircraft and obstacles on the ground.

While there is no standard TPA that applies to all airports or aircraft, the Traffic Pattern Altitude is usually 1,000 feet above the elevation of the airport. This recommendation is made by the FAA in their advisory circular AC 90-66B, dated February 2019. In this document, the FAA also acknowledges that airport owners and operators are responsible for establishing the traffic pattern at their airport in conjunction with the FAA.

Pilots can find the TPA for a given airport in the Chart Supplement (formerly known as the Airport/Facility Directory or A/FD). This supplement will list the TPA if it is non-standard (i.e., not 1,000 ft or 1,500 ft above ground level). If no TPA is listed, it is assumed to be 1,000 ft above ground level.

For airports outside the US, the TPA can be found in the Jeppesen database. If no specific TPA is listed for a Canadian airport, standard TPAs from Transport Canada's AIM RAC 4.5.2 Note 1 are applied. For other non-US airports, if no information is found in the Jeppesen database, the TPA is estimated using standard rules from the FAA's AIM 4-3-3.

Pilots should refer to the Chart Supplement for TPA information

The A/FD listing for each airport includes basic information about the airport, such as elevation, and can be found at the top of the listing. This information is often codified, and while pilots are not expected to know every detail within an A/FD listing, they should know where to find its description within the legend.

The A/FD listing will also include the codes IAP, DIAP, and AD if a prescribed FAA Instrument Approach Procedure, DoD Instrument Approach Procedure, or airport diagram has been published. Additionally, the listing will specify the specific Sectional, High Enroute, or Low Enroute Chart that should be analysed for the selected airport.

The Chart Supplement will typically list the Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA) if it is non-standard (not 1000 ft/1500 ft AGL). For example, the TPA for Galt is 10C, or 800 feet AGL. Brookfield Capitol Drive (02C), Schaumburg Regional (06C) and Grayslake/Campbell (C81) are all other airports with 800 ft AGL traffic patterns.

When there is no published TPA for an airport, the FAA's recommendations on pattern altitudes should be followed. According to the AC, light aircraft should use 1,000 feet AGL, heavy and turbine-powered aircraft should fly the pattern at 500 feet above the established traffic pattern altitude, and ultralights should operate no higher than 500 feet below the powered aircraft TPA.

In summary, pilots should refer to the Chart Supplement for TPA information, as it provides crucial data about the airport environment and can help improve situational awareness. By analysing the A/FD listing and referring to the legend, pilots can find key information such as airport elevation, associated charts, and traffic pattern altitudes.

Airports may have non-standard TPAs

Airports may have non-standard traffic pattern altitudes (TPAs) for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it is important to note that there is no standard TPA that applies to all airports or aircraft. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommended a pattern altitude of 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) in their advisory circular, this is not a mandatory rule. Airport owners and operators, in collaboration with the FAA, are responsible for establishing the traffic pattern at a given airport. This means that each airport's TPA can vary depending on factors such as terrain, noise abatement areas, or specific airport requirements.

For example, some airports located beneath controlled airspace may need to maintain a lower TPA to keep their traffic clear of the controlled airspace, which typically starts at 1,000 feet. Additionally, the standard pattern altitude was changed from 800 feet to 1,000 feet in April 2013, which could be a reason why some airports still have the old "standard" TPA of 800 feet.

Furthermore, when determining the TPA for an airport, it is essential to refer to the Chart Supplement or equivalent resources. These publications provide information on the established TPA for a given airport. If no specific TPA is listed, standard rules, such as those outlined by the FAA, can be followed. For instance, propeller-driven aircraft typically maintain a TPA of 1,000 feet AGL, while large and turbine-powered aircraft enter the traffic pattern at an altitude of 1,500 feet AGL or 500 feet above the established pattern altitude.

It is worth noting that non-standard TPAs can also be found at non-towered airports, where pilots are responsible for their own communications and adherence to standard procedures. In such cases, proper coordination, communication, and vigilance are crucial for safe operations.

Pilots should be aware of Instrument approaches and circling altitudes

Circling altitudes refer to the heights at which pilots must fly when manoeuvring to a different runway during an instrument approach. These altitudes are crucial for maintaining safety and adhering to air traffic control requirements.

In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) distributes approach charts that depict prescribed altitudes using underscores and overscores to indicate minimum, maximum, recommended, and mandatory altitudes. For instance, minimum altitudes are shown with an underscore, while maximum altitudes are indicated with an overscore. Pilots must adhere to these altitudes as they may serve as the basis for vertical separation of aircraft by air traffic control (ATC).

When performing an instrument approach, pilots should refer to their instrument approach plate, which will indicate whether circling manoeuvres are permitted and provide the corresponding circling minimum descent altitude (MDA). This circling MDA is typically higher than the MDA for a straight-in approach. Airports that authorise circling approaches will have a designated airspace that guarantees a minimum obstacle clearance of 300 feet.

It is important to note that circling approaches are considered one of the most challenging flight manoeuvres, especially under varying weather conditions. Therefore, pilots must carefully consider instrument approach procedures, navigation aid alignment, and prevailing weather conditions to execute circling approaches safely and effectively.

Additionally, when circling to land, pilots should maintain standard aircraft spacing and keep their manoeuvres as similar to a standard traffic pattern as possible. If visual reference is lost during the circling approach, standard procedures dictate that a missed approach must be called, and a go-around must be executed.

ForeFlight uses various sources to determine TPA for airports in and outside the US

ForeFlight is a flight planning tool that determines Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA) by using various sources depending on the airport's location. For airports in the US, ForeFlight checks the FAA's eNASR database for specific published TPAs. If no TPA is found, it checks the Jeppesen database. If specific TPAs are still not available, ForeFlight uses the following standard rules from the FAA's AIM 4-3-3: 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) for propeller-driven aircraft; large and turbine-powered aircraft enter the traffic pattern at an altitude of not less than 1,500 feet AGL or 500 feet above the established pattern altitude; helicopters operating in the traffic pattern may fly a pattern similar to the fixed-wing aircraft pattern but at a lower altitude (500 AGL) and closer to the runway.

For airports outside the US, ForeFlight first checks the Jeppesen database. If no specific TPA is found, then for Canadian airports, ForeFlight applies the standard TPAs from Transport Canada's AIM RAC 4.5.2 Note 1. For non-US airports, if no information is in the Jeppesen database and the airport is Canadian, ForeFlight applies the standard TPAs as published in Transport Canada's AIM RAC 4.5.2 Note 1.

When standard rules are applied from either AIM 4-3-3 or AIM RAC 4.5.2, ForeFlight appends the altitude with "est." as depicted in the screenshot. ForeFlight Mobile allows pilots to view Takeoff Minimums, Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODP), or Diverse Vector Areas, as well as Airport 3D View imagery for offline viewing at airports not in the route of flight. Aeronautical Maps in ForeFlight Mobile display several types of airports, including civil, military, private, and seaplane bases, both with and without control towers or services. For an airport to appear on the Aeronautical Map, it must be included in the official sources of aeronautical data used by ForeFlight, typically drawn from the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).

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