Definition
In airport traffic pattern operations, arrivals are aircraft inbound to land at the airport, as distinguished from departures (aircraft leaving) and aircraft already established in the traffic pattern. The term covers the phase from when an aircraft is approaching the airport environment through entering the traffic pattern and landing.
Plain English
Aircraft coming in to land at the airport. The opposite of departures, which are aircraft taking off and leaving.
Context Anchor
Seen in airport traffic pattern discussions, radio calls, and runway-use planning when pilots or controllers are talking about aircraft coming in to land.
Derivation
From the verb 'arrive,' which comes from the Old French 'ariver' meaning 'to come to shore,' originally a nautical term for a ship reaching land. In aviation it carries the same idea: an aircraft completing its journey by reaching the destination airport.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding arrivals allows pilots to anticipate traffic flow, maintain separation, and avoid conflicts in the pattern.
Intuition Check
Do not read arrivals as passengers or people showing up at the airport. In this context, arrivals are aircraft coming in to land.
Example Sentence 1
At a non-towered airport, arrivals announce their position on the common traffic advisory frequency before entering the traffic pattern.
Example Sentence 2
During busy periods, arrivals are sequenced to maintain safe spacing from departures on the runway.