Traffic Patterns

Just as there are rules of the road for driving a

car, there are rules for how airplanes fly.
Years ago it was recognized that, without some
sort of consistent arrival and departure
procedures, the risk of collisions at airports was
significant, especially at airports without operating
control towers.
What evolved was a standard airport traffic pattern
formed as a rectangle around the runway in use.

A Standard Traffic Pattern

Standard patterns are left

turns. Non-standard patterns,
are done with right hand
turns.
Names of the different legs
are the same regardless of
type of pattern.
Both are flown with the same
procedure.

Recommended Entries and Exits to Traffic

Pattern.

After Takeoff

Check that Aircraft not drifting

sideways.
@300' Agl .. Flaps Up. Lights as
required/desired.
@500' Agl..start turning X/wind
(90*turn) leg while maintaining
climb.
Complete after takeoff
Checklist.

Check Distance from Rwy within 0.5 to 1 mile. Try to

remain within gliding distance of the rwy at all times.

Turn Downwind when at the

appropriate distance from rwy.
Pwr should be at a low cruise
pwr setting.... no reason to be
going fast!!!
Start pre-landing checks
midfield of the rwy.
Reduce pwr to approx
1700rpm. This will be adjusted
as required later. Get airspeed
to flap operating range.

Preparing for landing

Abeam the Point of intended

touchdown (TDZ marker
usually)....

Flaps10,

Airspeed 80KIAS

Abeam Threshold.. start

controlled descent at
80KIAS. Start timing for
backup to judge Downwind to
Base turn.

Base Leg
Turn Base when the end of the
rwy is between the wing and
horizontal stabilizer.

Maintain steady descent rate.

Add another 10*Flaps. (Flaps
20*)
Speed falls to 75KIAS
Important to judge if the glide
angle is appropriate from about
midway thru base leg.... Easier to
make small adjustments now
than to try and salvage a too high
or too low approach.
Anticipate the turn to final
according to wind conditions.

Final Approach

Turn to final should be at least

500'AGL.
Final 10*flaps (for 30*) added if
desired due to conditions.
60KIAS + adjustments for wind
conditions... (+ gust factor).
@ 200'AGL make a
determination on whether to
continue approach, or go
missed. Aircraft should be
stabilised on G/Slope, target
airspeed held and touchdown
will be in desired location.

Maintaining constant glideslope visually.

For a constant angle glidepath,

the distance between the
horizon and the aiming point will
remain constant.
during a stabilized approach the
runway shape does not change.
If the airplane continues down
the glidepath at a constant
angle (stabilized), the image the
pilot sees will still be trapezoidal
but of proportionately larger
dimensions.

Go-Around

Whenever landing conditions are not satisfactory, a go-around is warranted.

The sooner the decision is made the easier it will be to transition to a go-around.

Immediate Full power, Stopping Descent and re-establishing climb.

Reduce flaps to intermediate setting slowly. Allowing aircraft to accelerate without descending further.

Continue climb and cleaning up aircraft. Aim for Vx and then transition to Vy as any obstacles are
cleared.