Traffic Pattern

Words for: Airport & Base Ops

heliports
seaplane bases
airport operations
Downwind Leg
nongovernment air/ground radio communication station
Multicom
nontowered
intrastate
Reliever Airports
Enplanements
aeronautical chart legend
Notices to Airmen
midfield crosswind
Chart Supplement U.S
high-performance retractable
Traffic Pattern
Upwind Leg
aeronautical chart bulletins
VOR receiver checkpoints
LAHSO — Land and Hold Short Operations
Relocated Runway Threshold
Displaced Threshold
centerline
ATIS code
en route
Runway Holding Position Sign
collocated
taxiways
magnetic azimuth
runway designation marking
runway distance remaining signs
runway holding position marking
Destination Signs
ILS critical area
runway incursions
VOR receiver checkpoint markings
Approach Light System
airport beacon
Airport Lighting
three-bar VASI
PAPI — Precision Approach Path Indicator
two-bar VASI
Visual Approach Slope Indicator
sequenced flashing lights
nonprecision instrument runway
noise abatement procedures
Runway Lighting
Visual Glideslope Indicators
runway edge lights
REIL — Runway End Identifier Lights
pulsating VASIs
In-Runway Lighting
New Lighting Technologies
Omnidirectional
taxiway lights
RWSL — Runway Status Lights
obstruction lights
stop bar lights
conspicuity
runway guard lights
Segmented Circle
Tetrahedron
wind direction indicators
Crosswind Leg
no transgression zone
Automated Terminal Information Service
Terminal Area
Training Operations
ATIS/landing information
Rejected/Aborted Takeoff procedures
EMASMAX
AeroNav — National Aeronautical Navigation Services
NACO — National Aeronautical Charting Office
airstrips
midair collision
inbound pilots
Abeam
midpoint
counteract drift
upwind side
doorposts
uncontrolled airports
inbound traffic

83 words in this area · Next word: Upwind Leg →

Plain English Meaning

A defined rectangular path that aircraft fly around an airport when taking off and landing, so everyone arrives, departs, and turns in a predictable order.

Full Definition

The standard rectangular flight path flown by aircraft around an airport during takeoff and landing operations, consisting of five legs: upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, and final approach. Standard pattern direction is left-hand turns unless otherwise specified for the runway in use.

Context Anchor

You encounter this term when operating near an airport, listening to airport radio calls, planning an , or practicing .

Plain English Meaning

Full Definition

Context Anchor

Derivation

Why Pilots Care

Intuition Check

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