Questions tagged [traffic-pattern]
The standard pattern that traffic follows when landing at or taking off from an airport, or when performing touch-and-goes. The pattern - or circuit - can use either right-hand or left-hand turns and has five segments: upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, and final.
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How can I find the area situated under an airport traffic pattern?
For a given airport (general mix of traffic & runway setup/configuration), how can I determine/define which areas around the airport can expect to be situated under the traffic pattern for that ...
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Why is this plane flying in circles?
I've been watching this flight after they declared a general emergency and now they are following this oval flight path. Why would that be?
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How is the VOR-A approach at KVCB meant to be flown?
This is the VOR-A approach into KVCB:
The plate indicates that "Circling NA west of Rwy 2-20." But runway 2 is left traffic and runway 20 is right traffic. How is one meant to avoid the ...
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Is there a standard traffic pattern altitude for ultralight aircraft?
Many airports publish a Traffic Pattern Altitude. For those that do not, the standard that pilots are expected to fly is 1000' AGL per the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. (The AIM and ...
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Is the published recommendation on when to turn crosswind dangerous?
Citing the FAA from Airplane Flying Handbook
On the departure leg after takeoff, the pilot should continue
climbing straight ahead and, if remaining in the traffic
pattern, commence a turn to the ...
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What to do when circling restrictions conflict with VFR traffic pattern direction [duplicate]
At 4B8 (Robertson Field) there is a single published IAP: RNAV (GPS) 2.
For VFR traffic, the field is left traffic on both Rwy 2 and Rwy 20. However, there are large obstacles to the east of the field,...
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Is this exam question on traffic patterns wrong?
I just don't know the difference between Left-hand traffic and Right-hand traffic.
I thought Left-hand traffic uses when land to the East and right-hand traffic for when land to the west. Is anyone ...
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Why not extend the downwind when first learning to land?
I'm supposed to turn base when I see my touchdown point is 45° off my shoulder. But I'm a newbie and final has a lot for me to handle all at once. I'm sure as I improve it will become easier, but what ...
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Approaching a towered airport for landing but no specific pattern entry direction from atc
Here’s the scenario that happened to me -
Flying into a busy class D, I contacted tower with the usual “XYZ tower, Warrior 12345 12 to the west at 2,500 full stop with Oscar”
They respond “Warrior ...
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What options are there when in a base or final traffic pattern to allow higher priority traffic to take off? [duplicate]
Today, my instructor and I were practicing landings - touch and go's.
We are at an untowered airport, KLGD. Wind was favoring runway 30.
There's been some fires in the area; we checked the NOTAMs and ...
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If I'm cleared to land without any specific instructions on how to enter the pattern, what should I do?
I learned at an uncontrolled airport. I thought I had controlled communications down pretty well, but I upset the tower controller today.
Situation:
I was coming from the southeast, and tower told me “...
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Flying in V formation with multiple planes
Logistically choreographed using air-traffic controllers to pair like planes headed in the same direction or by scheduling flights together, how much fuel could be saved pairing planes to fly in a ...
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How can I easily keep track of my landing count during pattern work?
PPL Student pilot, ~20 hrs
Hi,
whilst doing some pattern work I frequently find myself unable to keep accurate track of the number of landings. There's an AFIS at my home airport who keeps track (...
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Why is the TPA listed on the Chart Supplement (AF/D) sometimes lower than 1,000 AGL? [duplicate]
I'm looking at B19 in Maine, and it recommends a Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA) of 995 MSL (800 AGL). Wouldn't 1,000 AGL be safer?
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How should I make a downwind departure from a towered airport?
I'll be departing from a towered (Class D) airport, and I need to make a left downwind departure and turn right off the downwind leg to exit the pattern.
I've done this with a CFI, and I've also made ...
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