Airport Operations

Tetrahedron WIND Wind tee Wind sock or cone Figure 14-37. Wind direction indicators. 2. Maintain pattern altitude until abeam approach end of Traffic pattern the landing runway on downwind leg. [Figure 14-39] indicators 3. Complete turn to final at least ¼ mile from the runway. [Figure 14-39] Landing direction indicator 4. After takeoff or go-around, continue straight ahead until beyond departure end of runway. [Figure 14-39] 5. If remaining in the traffic pattern, commence turn to crosswind leg beyond the departure end of the runway within 300 feet of pattern altitude. [Figure 14-39] 6. If departing the traffic pattern, continue straight out, or exit with a 45° turn (to the left when in a left-hand traffic pattern; to the right when in a right-hand traffic pattern) beyond the departure end of the runway, after reaching pattern altitude. [Figure 14-39] Landing runway Wind cone or landing strip indicators Example: Key to Traffic Pattern Operations— Parallel Runways 1. Enter pattern in level flight, abeam the midpoint Figure 14-38. Segmented circle. of the runway, at pattern altitude. (1,000' AGL is recommended pattern altitude unless otherwise can be found in Chapter 4, “Air Traffic Control,” of the AIM. established.) [Figure 14-40] Pilots can find traffic pattern information and restrictions, such 2. Maintain pattern altitude until abeam approach end of as noise abatement in the Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly the landing runway on downwind leg. [Figure 14-40] Airport/Facility Directory). 3. Complete turn to final at least ¼ mile from the runway. Example: Key to Traffic Pattern Operations— [Figure 14-40] Single Runway 4. Do not overshoot final or continue on a track that 1. Enter pattern in level flight, abeam the midpoint penetrates the final approach of the parallel runway of the runway, at pattern altitude. (1,000' AGL is 5. After takeoff or go-around, continue straight ahead recommended pattern altitude unless otherwise until beyond departure end of runway. [Figure 14-40] established.) [Figure 14-39] 14-21