Plain English Meaning

A straight section of the airport traffic pattern flown alongside the runway, going the same way you would land.

Full Definition

A flight path in the traffic pattern parallel to the landing runway and flown in the same direction as the intended landing.

Context Anchor

Used when describing or flying the standard traffic pattern around a runway, especially during arrivals, go-arounds, and practice pattern work.

Derivation

Upwind' simply means 'into the wind.' Since aircraft normally take off and land into the wind, the leg flown in that direction along the runway is called the upwind leg.