Traffic Patterns

What is a Traffic Pattern?

A traffic pattern is the traffic flow prescribed for aircraft landing at, taxiing on, or taking off from, an airport.

Traffic patterns are established to:

• Separate aircraft.
• Provide an orderly flow of air traffic at nontowered airports.
• Keep aircraft away from obstructions and noise-sensitive areas.

Traffic Pattern Elements

Entry Leg: The preferred entry is on a 45° angle to the downwind at a point abeam the midpoint of the runway in use, unless otherwise directed by ATC. This leg should be of sufficient length to provide the pilot with a clear view of the traffic pattern and allow adequate time for planning. Descending entries should be avoided.

Downwind Leg: A flightpath parallel to the landing runway in the opposite direction of landing. This leg is flown approximately 1/2 to 1 mile out from the landing runway and at the specified traffic pattern altitude.

Base Leg: A flightpath at a right angle to the landing runway. It extends from the downwind leg to an intersection of the extended runway centerline. The turn to base begins at a point approximately 45° from the approach end of the runway to achieve a 1/2 to 3/4 mile final approach leg.

Final Approach Leg: A descending flightpath starting from the completion of the base-to-final turn and extending to the point of touchdown.

Departure Leg: A straight course aligned with, and leading from, the takeoff runway. The departure leg begins at the point the airplane leaves the ground and continues straight out, leaves on a 45° angle, or until a turn onto the crosswind leg is made.

Upwind Leg: A course flown parallel to the landing runway in the same direction as landing traffic. This leg is flown after go-arounds.

Crosswind Leg: A flightpath that is horizontally perpendicular to the extended centerline of the takeoff runway. It is opposite to the base leg. The turn to crosswind is made when the airplane is beyond 1/2 mile from the runway and within 300' of traffic pattern altitude.

Wind and Traffic Pattern Indicators

Tetrahedrons and Wind Tees: The wind tee and tetrahedron can be manually set to align with the preferred calm wind runway. Pilots should confirm the wind direction by checking the windsock.

Windsocks: Windsocks are designed to be fully extended in 15-knot winds and rotate to indicate wind direction in winds of 3 knots or greater.

Segmented Circle: The segmented circle is a ground-based structure that provides traffic pattern information. The short part of the "L" shows the direction in which the traffic pattern turns are made when using the runway parallel to the long part.

Traffic Pattern Operations

Sources of Traffic Pattern Information

Traffic pattern information can be divided into two areas:

• General information that describes the standard rules and procedures for all traffic patterns.
• Local information that describes the specific procedures for each airport of intended use.

General traffic pattern information includes:

• 14 CFR 91.113: Basic right-of-way rules
• 14 CFR 91.126 and 91.127: Traffic flow rules at nontowered airports
• 14 CFR 91.129, 91.130, and 91.131: Operations at airports within Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace
• AIM Chapter 4, Section 3: Airport Operations
• AC 90-66: Recommended Standards Traffic Patterns for Aeronautical Operations at Airports without Operating Control Towers

Local traffic pattern information includes:

• Chart Supplements: The direction of turns, the altitude to be flown, and procedures applicable to each airport
• NOTAMs: Pertinent information that may affect the use of runways and traffic patterns operations
• Traffic Pattern Indicators: Visual markings on the ground that indicate the direction of turns for each runway at an airport

Pilot Responsibilities at Nontowered Airports

At airports without operating control towers, it is the pilot's responsibility to:

• Determine the direction of the traffic pattern.
• Comply with appropriate traffic rules.
• Display common courtesy toward other pilots operating in the area.

Operations Without a Two-Way Radio

Airports without operating control towers generally do not require the use of two-way radios. Pilots should be especially vigilant for other aircraft while operating in the traffic pattern.

Pilots of inbound aircraft not equipped with a radio should determine the runway in use before entering the traffic pattern by observing the landing direction indicator or other means.

Best Practices for Collision Avoidance at Nontowered Airports

• Be Predictable: Fly published traffic patterns and use standard entry and exit procedures.
• Be Aware: Look and listen for traffic.
• Be Proactive: Announce your position and intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF).

Pilot Responsibilities at Towered Airports

When operating at an airport with an operating control tower, the pilot receives a clearance to approach or depart, as well as pertinent information about the traffic pattern by radio.

Unexpected Maneuvers in the Traffic Pattern

On occasion, it may be necessary for pilots to maintain spacing with the traffic they have been told to follow. The controller can anticipate minor maneuvering, such as shallow "S" turns. A large maneuver, such as a 360° turn, should never be executed without first advising the controller.

Direction of Turns at Nontowered Airports

Approaching aircraft must make all turns to the left unless approved visual markings indicate that turns should be made to the right.

On Sectional and Terminal Area Charts, right traffic patterns are indicated by the abbreviation "RP" (right pattern), followed by the appropriate runway number(s).

Straight-in-Approaches

The FAA does not regulate traffic pattern entry, only traffic pattern flow. However, the FAA discourages straight-in approaches to nontowered fields to ensure safe and predictable traffic pattern flows.

Occasions where a pilot can choose to execute a straight-in approach for landing include:

• A long, straight-in approach for landing.
• A visual approach executed as part of the termination of an instrument approach. [IFR]

Pilots who choose to execute a straight-in approach should not disrupt the flow of arriving and departing traffic.

Direction of Turns at Towered Airports

When operating to or from the primary airport within Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace, pilots must follow ATC instructions. When approaching to land in an airplane, the pilot must circle to the left, except when conducting a circling approach under standard instrument approach procedures or when ATC specifies otherwise.

Operations at Satellite Airports

When operating to or from a satellite airport within a Class C or Class D airspace area, pilots must operate in compliance with FAA arrival and departure traffic patterns.

Traffic Pattern Altitudes

Traffic pattern altitudes should be maintained unless otherwise required by the applicable distance from cloud criteria. Pilots of small airplanes should operate at the normal traffic pattern altitude of 1,000' AGL unless specified otherwise in the Chart Supplements.

Large or Turbine-Powered Airplanes

At airports within Class D, Class, C, and Class C airports, large or turbine-powered airplanes are required by regulation to use at least 1,500' AGL as the traffic pattern altitude. They must also climb to an altitude of 1,500' above the surface as rapidly as practicable after takeoff.

Observation of Wind Indicators at Nontowered Airports

When checking the wind and landing direction indicator at an airport without a control tower, pilots should avoid flying through the traffic pattern. Instead, they should check the indicators while flying at an altitude above the traffic pattern.

Once the traffic pattern direction has been determined, pilots should proceed to a point well clear of the pattern before descending to the traffic pattern altitude.

Visual Approach Slope Indicators

Within Class D, Class C, and Class B airspace, all airplanes approaching to land on a runway served by a visual approach slope indicator must maintain an altitude at or above the glidepath until a lower altitude is necessary for a safe landing.

Recommended Traffic Pattern Speeds

• Departure and Upwind Leg: V_X or V_Y as appropriate
• Crosswind Leg: 1.4 V_S1 after reaching the traffic pattern altitude
• Downwind Leg: 1.5 V_S1
• Base Leg: 1.4 V_SO
• Final Approach: 1.3 V_SO plus one-half of the wind gust factor
• Maneuvering: 1.4 V_S1 minimum while making turns in the clean configuration (e.g., pattern entry or 360° turn for spacing)

Traffic Pattern Entries

Entry to the downwind leg should be at a 45° angle to the downwind at a point abeam the midpoint of the landing runway unless otherwise directed by ATC.

Arriving aircraft should be at traffic pattern altitude and allow for sufficient time to view the entire traffic pattern before entering. Entries into traffic patterns while descending create hazards and should be avoided.

Entry Methods when Crossing Midfield

As an alternative type of entry, pilots may choose to cross over midfield. The decision should be made carefully with considerations taken for known traffic and parachute operations.

270° Entry (Preferred)

One method of entry from the opposite side of the pattern is to cross over at least 500' above the pattern altitude. When well clear of the pattern, approximately 2 miles out, descend to pattern altitude and enter at a 45° angle to the downwind leg.

Because large and turbine aircraft normally fly the traffic pattern at 1,500' AGL, crossing 500' above the pattern altitude might place the airplane in conflict with traffic. If large or turbine aircraft operate into the airport, 2,000' AGL is a safer crossing altitude.

Midfield Entry (Alternative)

An alternate method is to enter on a midfield crosswind at pattern altitude, carefully scan for traffic, and then turn downwind. This entry should not be used when the pattern is congested and pilots should give way to aircraft on the preferred 45° entry and on downwind.

Traffic Pattern Departures

Methods for exiting the traffic pattern after takeoff:

• After reaching the pattern attitude, exit with a 45° turn in the direction of the traffic pattern.
• Climb straight out on the extended runway centerline. Wait until the airplane is at least 500' above the traffic pattern altitude before making any turn.

How to Fly a Traffic Pattern

1. Turn crosswind at least 1/2 mile beyond the end of the runway and within 300' of the published pattern altitude.
2. Level off at the pattern altitude and turn downwind approximately 1/2 mile from the runway.
3. Complete the before-landing checklist.
4. Abeam the touchdown point, reduce power to the approach setting and extend flaps or landing gear as appropriate.

1. Maintain pattern altitude until abeam the approach end of the landing runway on the downwind leg.
2. At a 45° angle from the approach end of the runway, begin the turn to base.
3. Extend flaps if appropriate.
4. Clear the area for landing traffic and begin the turn to final.
5. Track the runway centerline and extend any remaining flaps if necessary.
6. Maintain a stabilized final approach.

The "REACT" Model for Nontowered Airports

The way to fly safely at nontowered airports is to use the "REACT" model:

• Radio: Listen to the automated weather observations, if available, and the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) for airport information and traffic advisories. Make position reports using standard phraseology.
• Eyes: Look for other traffic. Visual scanning is the top priority when operating in the vicinity of a nontowered airport.

• Approach: Turn the landing lights ON within 10 miles of the airport. Complete the descent checklist before entering the traffic pattern.
• Courtesy: A little courtesy smooths out most problems. The "me first" attitude can be dangerous.
• Traffic Pattern: Follow all recommended procedures. Research the departure and destination airports before flight.

Safety Considerations for Traffic Patterns

• Make coordinated turns and keep all bank angles at 30° or less.
• Check blind spots caused by fixed aircraft structures. The worst-case scenario is a low-wing airplane flying above a high-wing airplane.
• Descend to the traffic pattern altitude before entering the pattern.
• At nontowered airports, be aware that there may be aircraft in the pattern without radios.

• If the aircraft is equipped with a traffic information display, set the scale to a low range to aid in situational awareness.
• Do not overshoot final or continue on a track that will penetrate a parallel runway's flight path.

Common Errors for Traffic Patterns

• Failure to comply with traffic pattern instructions, procedures, and rules
• Improper correction for wind drift on any leg of the pattern
• Flying the downwind leg too close or too far from the airport
• Inadequate spacing from other traffic
• Poor altitude or airspeed control
• Improper radio calls

• Executing a 360° turn in the traffic pattern for spacing
• Not configuring the aircraft appropriately for landing
• Failure to use or improper use of the appropriate checklist

Airman Certification Standards for Traffic Patterns