Airport Traffic Pattern Flashcards
What is TPA?
Traffic pattern altitude
The traffic pattern has five major legs:
Upwind leg, Crosswind leg, Downwind leg, Base leg, Final approach leg
The airport traffic pattern allows pilots to _______
know where to look for and expect other aviators that are operating at the airport.
Upwind - _______
This is the first leg of the traffic pattern after takeoff. The aircraft flies parallel to and into the wind, gradually gaining altitude. Pilots will typically climb to between 700-1000 feet AGL on the upwind leg before beginning the crosswind turn.
Crosswind - _______.
After reaching the desired altitude on the upwind leg, the pilot makes a 90 degree turn to fly crosswind, or perpendicular to the runway heading. This allows the pilot to climb to TPA and gain spacing from the runway for the downwind leg
Downwind - _______
The longest leg of the traffic pattern. Enter it 45 degrees to the upwind threshold. It’s flown parallel to the landing runway in the opposite direction of landing. It’s flown at pattern altitude (usually 1,000 feet above the elevation of the airport surface), allowing the pilot to prepare for landing. Abeam touch down point you reduce power and first flaps, begin a descent.
Base - _______
When the aircraft reaches the desired point on the downwind leg (which Is typically 45 degrees to the touchdown point), turn base leg. When wings level, select your second notch of flaps and lower the nose to maintain 70 knots. While descending, check if you are roughly half way down from TPA by the time you are halfway through base. If you are, it’s a good indication your descent rate is on point, and if you aren’t you still have time to salvage the approach
Final - _______
The final turn aligns the aircraft on the extended runway centerline. Turn final to align with the runway and when wings are level, select final flap setting and slow to 60 knots. The aircraft is descending towards the touchdown zone as it flies the final approach leg. The pilot will aim to have the aircraft configured for landing by final approach.
Following _______ will help _______ proper traffic pattern operations although _______
general principles
maintain
the specifics on altitudes, distances, and airspeeds may vary by aircraft type and airport
The AE _______
(airport elevation) is the elevation above mean sea level of an airport’s runway threshold. AE is found on charts and airport diagrams. Pilots should check this information during pre-flight planning.
Knowing the AE helps _______
set proper altimeter settings when flying to/from an airport. You set the altimeter to the current airport elevation when on the ground.
Pattern altitudes are based on _______
AE. Without knowing the AE, you wouldn’t know the proper pattern altitude.
Make ATC calls for air traffic pattern _______
procedures
Traffic patterns:
- Propeller-driven aircraft enter the traffic pattern at 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL).
- Large and turbine-powered aircraft enter the traffic pattern at an altitude of not less than 1,500 feet AGL or 500 feet above the established pattern altitude.
- Unless otherwise indicated, all turns in the traffic pattern must be made to the left, except for helicopters, as applicable.
- On Sectional, Aeronautical, and VFR Terminal Area Charts, right traffic patterns are indicated at public-use and joint-use airports with the abbreviation “RP” (for Right Pattern), followed by the appropriate runway number(s) at the bottom of the airport data block.
- If departing the traffic pattern, continue straight out, or exit with a 45 degree turn (to the left when in a left-hand traffic pattern; to the right when in a right-hand traffic pattern) beyond the departure end of the runway, after reaching pattern altitude.
