According to an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association article (AOPA), “45 percent of collisions occur in the traffic pattern, and of these, two-thirds occur during approach and landing when aircraft are on final or over the runway.”
Traffic Patterns were Developed to Promote Safety
Traffic patterns were developed so that air traffic safely flows into and out of an airport. It is important for pilots to fly the recommended traffic pattern and make the proper radio calls when departing and arriving at an airport.
Flying the proper traffic pattern and arrival procedures helps to ensure the safe flow of traffic and to avoid possible mid-air collisions. Flying a proper traffic pattern is especially important when landing at a non-towered airport since there is no operating control tower to oversee the safe flow of traffic around an airport.
Arrival Procedures at a Non-Towered Airport
Pilots should self-announce their intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), Unicom, or Multicom frequency depending on the recommended communication procedure for the airport.
When entering the traffic pattern on arrival, pilots should enter the traffic pattern at a 45-degree angle to the midpoint of the downwind leg at traffic pattern altitude. (as shown by the airplane at area 1 in figure 1 below) Traffic pattern altitude is typically 1,000 feet above the airport elevation.
When entering the airport traffic pattern, the pilot will typically make a radio call on the CTAF. Let’s assume we were arriving at Bowerman Field (illustrated in Figure 2 below) in Hoquiam, WA. We would announce on the CTAF frequency of 122.7 and would say something like this. “Bowerman traffic, Alpha Bravo 123, entering left downwind runway 24, full-stop, Bowerman.”
Right-Hand Traffic Patterns
Airports with a right-hand traffic pattern will be illustrated with the letters “RP” on a VFR sectional chart. For instance, Auburn Municipal Airport in Auburn, Washington (Figure 3 below) is a non-towered airport with a right-hand traffic pattern for runway one seven. Notice the letters RP next to the number 17. This means that a right-hand traffic pattern should be flown if landing on runway one seven at Auburn Municipal Airport.
The chart supplements (also known as the airport facility directory) will have the abbreviation as shown to indicate that a right-hand traffic pattern should be flown.
Alternate Methods of Entering Traffic Pattern
If entering the traffic pattern from the opposite side of the downwind leg, it is recommended to fly over the airport at 500 feet above traffic pattern altitude. The pilot should then fly clear of the traffic pattern by about two miles then make a teardrop entry (left hand image of figure 4) and descend to traffic pattern altitude to enter the downwind leg at a 45-degree angle. “If large or turbine aircraft operate at the airport, it is recommended to fly 1,000 feet above traffic pattern altitude if entering the pattern from the opposite side of the downwind leg“, according to the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
An alternate method is to enter on a midfield crosswind at pattern altitude as shown (right-hand image in figure 4). This technique is not recommended if the airport is busy. The pilot should carefully scan for traffic and announce their intentions and then turn downwind. Pilots should always remember to give way to aircraft on the preferred 45-degree entry and to aircraft already established on downwind.
Be Cautious of Aircraft Flying Straight-In Approaches
While not against the regulations, straight-in approaches are not recommended, but some pilots do fly them when landing at non-towered airports. Pilots should be on the lookout for aircraft on a long final approach when turning from base to final.
Fly a Standard Left-Hand Pattern unless Otherwise Indicated
As specified in FAR Part 91, unless otherwise indicated on a VFR sectional chart (as previously mentioned, Right-Hand patterns will be illustrated on a VFR sectional chart with the letters “RP.”) or chart supplement, pilots should fly a standard left-hand traffic pattern and make all turns to the left.
At towered airports, the tower may instruct you to fly a different pattern than the standard left-hand traffic pattern such as a straight-in approach or right-hand traffic pattern. This is done in order to keep air traffic moving efficiently.
Staying in the Traffic Pattern
After takeoff, pilots should climb out and stay aligned with the departing runway or depart on a 45-degree angle to the left if it’s a left-hand pattern or right for a right-hand pattern. This is known as the departure leg (see area 6 in figure 7 below). It is always recommended to take off and land into the wind and the windsock will indicate the direction of the wind.
If staying in the traffic pattern after takeoff, turn onto the crosswind leg. (as shown in the aircraft by area 5 in figure 7 below).
After flying the crosswind leg and assuming a left-hand traffic pattern is being flown, the pilot would turn left to transition to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The downwind leg of the traffic pattern is flown parallel to the landing runway in the opposite direction that you intend to land. The downwind leg of the traffic pattern is typically flown one-half mile to one mile away from the runway. After flying the downwind leg, the pilot then turns onto the base leg in preparation for transitioning to the final approach leg. The base leg is at a 90-degree angle to the landing runway. It is recommended to make the turn from downwind to base when at a 45-degree angle from the end of the landing runway. Let’s assume we are at XYZ airport, and our call sign is ABC 123 and we are intending to do a full stop landing.
On runway seven. The radio call when on the base leg would sound something like this. “XYZ traffic, Alpha Bravo 123, entering left base runway 7, full-stop, XYZ.”
If we were doing a touch and go, we would say touch and go instead of full stop.
After flying the base leg, the pilot then should turn left to fly the final approach leg and continue a stabilized descending flight path until the point of touchdown on the landing runway. The radio call when on final approach would sound something like this. “XYZ traffic, Alpha Bravo 123, on final approach runway 7, full-stop, XYZ.”