Understanding Airport Traffic Patterns: A Guide To Visual Navigation

Determining the traffic pattern at an airport is essential for pilots to ensure safe and efficient operations. The traffic pattern refers to the standard path followed by aircraft when taking off or landing. At controlled airports, air traffic control (ATC) provides instructions, but at non-towered airports, pilots must establish their own traffic pattern. Typically, the standard traffic pattern involves left turns, unless the airport specifies right-hand patterns. Pilots can identify the traffic pattern direction through visual markings, light gun signals, airport publications, or published approach procedures. Additionally, aeronautical charts, such as the VFR sectional chart, provide crucial information, including the Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA), which is usually 1,000 feet above the airport elevation. However, it's important to consult the appropriate charts and resources for each specific airport to confirm the traffic pattern and any deviations from the standard.

Traffic patterns at non-towered airports

Flying into a non-towered airport requires pilots to be aware of their surroundings and communicate with other pilots to remain at a safe distance from each other. Here are some key points to remember when navigating traffic patterns at non-towered airports:

Understanding Non-Towered Airports and Traffic Patterns:

Non-towered airports are airports without an air traffic control tower. At these airports, pilots themselves manage air traffic and maintain a safe sequence for takeoff and landing. The standard traffic pattern turns are to the left, providing better cockpit visibility for pilots. However, some airports may have right-turn patterns due to local conditions, which will be indicated on the VFR sectional, the A/FD, or the traffic pattern indicator near the windsock.

Approaching a Non-Towered Airport:

When approaching a non-towered airport, pilots should start monitoring the airport's CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) when about 10 miles out. This is also the ideal time to make the first radio call, announcing your intentions to other aircraft. If you plan to overfly the airport before entering the traffic pattern, maintain an altitude of 500-1000 feet above the traffic pattern and make the necessary radio calls.

Entering the Traffic Pattern:

To enter the traffic pattern, position your aircraft for a downwind leg entry and descend to the traffic pattern altitude, typically 1,000 feet above the airport elevation. However, this may vary, so check the A/FD for the specific airport. Fly at a 45-degree angle to the downwind leg, aiming for the midpoint of the runway, while communicating your position and intentions to other traffic.

Downwind and Base Legs:

Once established on the downwind leg, fly parallel to the runway at the traffic pattern altitude. When abeam the landing threshold, begin your descent. Turn onto the base leg, continuing to descend while keeping the runway in sight. Make sure to maintain a consistent speed, matching the speed of other planes in the traffic pattern if possible. Communicate your position on the downwind and base legs clearly over the CTAF.

Final Approach:

On the final approach, align your aircraft with the extended runway centerline. Make adjustments to stay on course and control your descent. Continue to slow down and add flaps as necessary. Communicate your position on the final approach to other pilots. Always be prepared for potential conflicts and follow right-of-way rules, yielding to established traffic in the pattern.

Departing a Non-Towered Airport:

When departing, climb straight out until you reach the traffic pattern altitude before making any turns. This helps avoid conflicts with incoming traffic. Continue communicating your intentions as you depart, and maintain a safe altitude above the traffic pattern before making major course changes.

How to find the traffic pattern direction in an AF/D

When looking at an AF/D, the traffic pattern direction can be determined by looking at the runway identifiers. A left-hand traffic pattern is the standard unless otherwise noted. If the AF/D notes "RP" with a number, this indicates a right-hand traffic pattern for the corresponding runway. For example, "RP 27" would indicate a right-hand pattern for runway 27. If no information is given, the default left-hand pattern is assumed.

In addition to the AF/D, the traffic pattern direction can also be determined by looking at a sectional chart. This will indicate right-hand patterns with "RP" and the relevant runway number. For example, "RP 2" would indicate a right-hand pattern for runway 2.

The standard left-hand pattern is used unless there are overriding signals. Airports may change the procedure to comply with local terrain or development. For example, an airfield near a neighbourhood to its east may require traffic to circle to the west of the airport. In this case, a right-hand pattern would be used for runway 17, but a left-hand pattern for runway 35.

When an airfield establishes a non-default traffic pattern, they must provide this information to pilots. This can be done through visual markings, light gun signals, airport publications, or published approach procedures.

Standard traffic pattern turns

Standard traffic patterns are usually left turns, but there are exceptions where right turns might be used. In the US, non-standard (right-hand) patterns are noted in the Airport/Facilities Directory or on a sectional chart. In other countries, they may be indicated in a similar document, e.g. the Canada Flight Supplement.

In a standard traffic pattern, all turns are to the left, mimicking the flow of road traffic in countries like the United States. However, exceptions exist. The abbreviation 'RP' on aeronautical charts will show the runways that require right-hand traffic patterns at an airport without a control tower. Right-hand traffic patterns can occur when the airport layout or local noise abatement procedures determine their use. In simple terms, there could be obstacles near the airport that would make a left-turn traffic pattern unsafe.

Right-hand traffic can also be found at airports with parallel runways. In this case, one runway uses a normal left traffic pattern, and the other uses a right-hand pattern to avoid aircraft crossing paths in flight.

The standard traffic pattern is a rectangular path consisting of the upwind leg, crosswind leg, downwind leg, base leg, and final approach.

The upwind leg: Departing with a runway heading. This requires focusing on climbing and clearing any obstacles near the pattern.

The crosswind leg: Turning left from upwind, you can see the runway numbers out your left window. Here, you focus on being at the right pattern altitude and maintaining the right speed.

The downwind leg: Turning left from the crosswind, you can see that you're flying parallel to the runway. Once abeam the runway numbers, you should be preparing your GUMPS check.

The base leg: Turning left from downwind, you should be setting up in preparation for landing once on the base leg.

The final approach: The final approach requires making corrections to keep the aircraft on the centreline, maintaining your proper rate of descent, and watching to avoid a stall.

Traffic pattern altitude

When approaching an airport for landing, it is important to determine the correct traffic pattern altitude (TPA) to ensure a safe and efficient arrival. The TPA is the altitude at which you should fly when entering the airport's traffic pattern. Here are some key points to understand and follow regarding traffic pattern altitude:

Firstly, the TPA is not always a standard 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL). While it is a common misconception that this standard altitude applies to all airports and aircraft, the actual TPA can vary. The correct TPA for a given airport is published in the Chart Supplement, which pilots should refer to before their flight. This document will provide the specific TPA for that airport, and pilots are responsible for adhering to it. It is important to note that some airports may not have a specified TPA, in which case the recommendations provided by the FAA should be followed.

When checking the Chart Supplement, you may find varying TPAs that do not align with the standard 1,000 feet AGL. For example, several airports in the local area have a TPA of 800 feet AGL, while others have TPAs of 830 feet AGL or even 600 feet AGL. These variations highlight the importance of consulting the appropriate publications before each flight to ensure you are adhering to the correct TPA for your destination airport.

In cases where there is no published TPA for an airport, the FAA has provided recommendations on pattern altitudes to follow. According to these recommendations, light aircraft should maintain an altitude of 1,000 feet AGL, while heavy and turbine-powered aircraft should fly at 500 feet above the established traffic pattern altitude. Ultralight aircraft, on the other hand, should operate no higher than 500 feet below the powered aircraft TPA. These recommendations ensure safe altitude separations between different types of aircraft.

Additionally, when performing an IFR circling approach, it is appropriate to fly at a different altitude in the pattern. This situation arises when the instrument approach is not aligned with the intended runway, requiring aircraft to "circle" the airport to reach the desired runway. In such cases, the circling altitude is typically lower than the usual TPA and may vary depending on the aircraft category. For example, at Galt airport, the circling altitude is 1,480 feet MSL (605 feet AGL) for all aircraft categories.

Lastly, once you have identified the correct TPA for your destination airport, remember to establish this altitude before entering the traffic pattern. Maintain this altitude until you are at least abeam the approach end of the landing runway. This practice ensures that you remain at a safe altitude and avoid potential conflicts with other aircraft in the pattern.

Entering the traffic pattern

When approaching a non-towered airport, it is up to the pilots to sequence and maintain a safe distance from each other. The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) recommends entering the pattern on a 45-degree angle to the downwind leg. This is considered the best practice as it enables arriving aircraft to merge easily with other traffic in the pattern, much like merging onto a freeway. This also provides the best chance for other aircraft in the pattern to see you and vice versa.

To enter the traffic pattern, first, fly over the airport at an altitude of at least 500 feet above the traffic pattern altitude, preferably 1,000 feet above. This allows you to observe the windsock, determine wind direction, and select the appropriate runway for landing. While overhead, monitor the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and look for other aircraft in the pattern and on the ground.

Next, determine the correct heading for your entry. If you are entering a left-turning pattern, turn so that the selected runway's heading is on the first 45-degree tick to the right of the lubber line on your heading indicator (HI). This sets you on a course away from the airport, opposite to the heading you will use to enter the pattern. For a right-hand pattern, use the first 45-degree tick mark to the left of the lubber line.

Fly this outbound heading until you reach the outside limit of the pattern, and then begin your descent. Maintain this heading while descending 500 feet, and then turn 180 degrees into the wind until the reciprocal of your current heading is under the lubber line. Level off at the pattern altitude, and you should now be on a perfect 45-degree entry to the downwind leg.

When entering the traffic pattern, always yield to other traffic already established in the downwind. Remember to limit your bank angles to around 30 degrees, especially in a high-wing aircraft, to maintain good visibility during turns.

If you are approaching from the side with the traffic pattern, you can simply enter on a 45-degree angle to the downwind without flying over midfield first.

Frequently asked questions