Definition
Ground-based visual devices, typically located at or near the segmented circle on a non-towered airport, that show pilots the direction of traffic pattern turns for each runway when those turns are non-standard (right-hand instead of the usual left-hand pattern).
Plain English
Painted or built markers on the airport that tell you which way to turn when flying the rectangular pattern around a runway, so you fly the pattern in the correct direction.
Context Anchor
Seen at airports, especially non-towered airports, near ground markings such as a segmented circle or in airport information describing runway pattern direction.
Derivation
Traffic comes from older words meaning movement or trade along a route. Indicator comes from Latin words meaning to point out or show. Together, the phrase means something that points out how aircraft movement should flow around the airport.
Why Pilots Care
They allow every pilot to fly the same pattern direction, which prevents conflicts and mid-air collisions near the airport.
Intuition Check
Do not read traffic indicators as devices that detect aircraft traffic. In this context, they are markings or displays that show the direction aircraft traffic should follow around a runway.
Example Sentence 1
While overflying the field at 1,500 feet above pattern altitude, the pilot checked the traffic indicators around the segmented circle and saw that Runway 27 used right traffic.
Example Sentence 2
Before landing at the uncontrolled field, the pilot flew over the segmented circle to read the traffic indicators.