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.