AIM Text
- It is recommended that aircraft enter the airport traffic pattern at one of the following altitudes listed below. These altitudes should be maintained unless another traffic pattern altitude is published in the Chart Supplement or unless otherwise required by the applicable distance from cloud criteria (14 CFR section 91.155). (See FIG 4-3-2 and FIG 4-3-3):
- Propeller-driven aircraft enter the traffic pattern at 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL).
- Large and turbine-powered aircraft enter the traffic pattern at an altitude of not less than 1,500 feet AGL or 500 feet above the established pattern altitude.
- Helicopters operating in the traffic pattern may fly a pattern similar to the fixed-wing aircraft pattern, but at a lower altitude (500 AGL) and closer to the runway. This pattern may be on the opposite side of the runway from fixed-wing traffic when airspeed requires or for practice power-off landings (autorotation) and if local policy permits. Landings not to the runway must avoid the flow of fixed wing traffic.
- A pilot may vary the size of the traffic pattern depending on the aircraft's performance characteristics. Pilots of en route aircraft should be constantly alert for aircraft in traffic patterns and avoid these areas whenever possible.
- Unless otherwise indicated, all turns in the traffic pattern must be made to the left, except for helicopters, as applicable.
- On Sectional, Aeronautical, and VFR Terminal Area Charts, right traffic patterns are indicated at public-use and joint-use airports with the abbreviation “RP” (for Right Pattern), followed by the appropriate runway number(s) at the bottom of the airport data block.
2. *RP indicates special conditions exist and refers pilots to the Chart Supplement.
3. Right traffic patterns are not shown at airports with full-time control towers.
- Wind conditions affect all airplanes in varying degrees. Figure 4-3-4 is an example of a chart used to determine the headwind, crosswind, and tailwind components based on wind direction and velocity relative to the runway. Pilots should refer to similar information provided by the aircraft manufacturer when determining these wind components.
FIG 4-3-2
Traffic Pattern Operations
Single Runway
FIG 4-3-3
Traffic Pattern Operations
Parallel Runways
FIG 4-3-4
Headwind/Tailwind/Crosswind Component Calculator
Source: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual · current edition · paragraph 4-3-3.
Research Notes
AIM 4-3-3 covers traffic patterns — the standardized rectangular path aircraft fly around an airport for arrivals and departures.
Standard left-traffic pattern: All turns to the LEFT. The legs:
- Upwind: Departure leg, aligned with the runway, climbing on runway heading
- Crosswind: 90° turn from upwind, perpendicular to runway, climbing or level
- Downwind: Parallel to runway in opposite direction of landing, at pattern altitude
- Base: 90° turn from downwind, perpendicular to runway, descending
- Final: Aligned with runway, descending to land
Right-traffic pattern: All turns to the right. Required by chart symbology or local NOTAM. Painted on segmented circle if present, listed in Chart Supplement, or announced via ATC.
Pattern altitude (standard):
- Single-engine GA: 1,000 ft AGL (most common)
- Heavy/turbine: 1,500 ft AGL (sometimes higher)
- Helicopters: typically 700 ft AGL (lower pattern below fixed-wing)
Pattern entry — non-towered: Recommended: enter at pattern altitude on a 45° angle to the downwind leg. Avoid straight-in approaches except at airports where they're explicitly authorized. Avoid base-leg entries — they create conflicts with downwind traffic.
Pattern entry — towered: Comply with tower instructions. May be assigned: straight-in, downwind entry, base entry, or visual approach. Always read back the assigned pattern leg.
Reference: AC 90-66B (Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations); AIM 4-3-3.