Definition
The standard altitude above the airport elevation at which aircraft fly the rectangular pattern around a runway under visual flight rules, typically 1,000 feet above ground level for propeller-driven aircraft, though it varies by airport and aircraft type.
Plain English
The height above the airport at which planes fly the box-shaped path around the runway when landing under visual conditions. It is usually about 1,000 feet above the ground.
Context Anchor
Seen in circling approach discussions, where an instrument pilot may be maneuvering visually near the airport while other aircraft are flying the normal visual traffic pattern.
Derivation
VFR stands for Visual Flight Rules, the regulations governing flight by outside visual reference. 'Pattern' comes from the rectangular shape of the path flown around the runway. Together the phrase names the altitude at which that visual rectangular path is flown.
Why Pilots Care
It maintains consistent vertical separation from terrain and other traffic while allowing safe integration into the airport environment.
Grounding Statement
Picture aircraft circling the runway at a customary height while they line up to land; that customary height is the VFR traffic pattern altitude.
Intuition Check
Do not assume this means any altitude where traffic happens to be. It means the normal airport pattern altitude used by aircraft operating visually, and it is not the same thing as the minimum altitude for a circling instrument approach.
Example Sentence 1
After breaking out of the clouds on the circling approach, the pilot leveled off at the VFR traffic pattern altitude before turning to align with the landing runway.
Example Sentence 2
Airport information listed the VFR traffic pattern altitude as 1,000 feet above the field elevation.