Definition
A ground-based visual aid located on or near a non-towered airport that gives arriving pilots key traffic pattern information at a glance. It typically consists of a central segmented circle surrounded by traffic pattern indicators showing the direction of turns for each runway, along with a wind direction indicator (such as a wind cone or tetrahedron) and, where installed, a landing direction indicator.
Plain English
It is a set of markers on the ground at a small airport that shows pilots flying overhead which way the wind is blowing and which way to turn when entering the traffic pattern for each runway.
Context Anchor
Seen from the air when approaching an airport, especially an airport without an operating control tower.
Derivation
The name describes what it looks like from above: a circle broken into segments, with extensions arranged around it like spokes. Each segment and extension carries a specific piece of pattern information, so the whole layout reads as one combined visual sign.
Why Pilots Care
It allows pilots to determine the correct traffic pattern direction without radio communication, reducing the chance of conflicts with other aircraft.
Grounding Statement
From above, the system gives a quick visual clue about how airplanes are expected to land and fly around that airport.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as just a circle on the ground. In FAA use, the segmented circle visual indicator system is the whole ground display, including the circle and the nearby direction markers that give landing and traffic pattern information.
Example Sentence 1
Before descending to pattern altitude, the pilot overflew the field and checked the segmented circle visual indicator system to confirm left traffic for Runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
Before entering the downwind leg, the student checked the segmented circle visual indicator system to verify the correct runway direction.