Definition
A traffic pattern phrase used in airport operations indicating the direction in which turns are made between the legs of the pattern. When unspecified, turns are to the left (a standard pattern); when right turns are required, the airport publishes 'Right Traffic' for the relevant runway.
Plain English
Which way you turn as you fly the rectangular pattern around the runway. Unless told otherwise, you turn left.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructions where a pilot is told to circle, orbit, or make repeated turns near a point or along a procedure.
Why Pilots Care
Standardized turn direction keeps traffic flowing in the same direction so pilots can see and avoid each other.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the pilot may choose the turn direction. If the instruction or procedure states left or right, that direction controls the maneuver.
Example Sentence 1
The Chart Supplement listed Runway 27 as right traffic, so the pilot adjusted the direction of turns when entering the pattern.
Example Sentence 2
Because the airport published right traffic, the direction of turns was reversed for all pattern operations that day.