Definition
Successive operations involving takeoffs and landings or low approaches where the aircraft does not exit the traffic pattern between maneuvers.
Plain English
Flying repeated takeoffs and landings at the same airport while staying in the rectangular pattern around the runway, without leaving to go anywhere else.
Context Anchor
Commonly used in radio calls with a control tower or local airport traffic when a pilot wants to practice repeated takeoffs and landings.
Derivation
"Closed" here means the flight path forms a closed loop — the aircraft stays within the airport traffic pattern rather than departing the area. The pattern itself is the rectangular circuit flown around the runway.
Why Pilots Care
Lets pilots communicate their plan clearly so others know they will remain in the pattern, improving safety and sequencing during practice.
Intuition Check
“Closed traffic” does not mean the airport or runway is closed. It means the aircraft remains in the local pattern after takeoff instead of leaving the airport area.
Example Sentence 1
Cessna 542 Tango requested closed traffic so the student could practice three takeoffs and landings before the lesson ended.
Example Sentence 2
N123AB, closed traffic, touch and go runway 27.