Right-hand patterns will be set up for parallel runways, for noise abatement, or because of ground features (such as terrain, towers, etc.). They are usually left-hand turns because most small airplanes are piloted from the left seat (or the senior pilot or pilot-in-command sits in the left seat), and so the pilot has better visibility out the left window. Traffic patterns can be defined as left-hand or right-hand according to which way the turns in the pattern are performed. In light and variable wind conditions, the direction of the runway in use might change several times during the day. Almost all runways are reversible, and aircraft use whichever runway in whichever direction is best suited to the wind. A common scenario is to have two runways arranged at or close to 90 degrees to one another, so that aircraft can always find a suitable runway. This is especially important for single-runway airports that do not have the option of a second runway pointed in an alternative direction. Runway orientation is determined from historical data of the prevailing winds in the area. The purpose of this is to provide arriving aircraft with the best runway to land on according to the wind direction. Many airfields have runways facing a variety of directions. Another exception is at airports with mountains at one end. In these instances, takeoffs are usually made downhill and landings uphill regardless of wind direction with the slope aiding in acceleration and deceleration. This has the effect of reducing the aircraft's speed over the ground (for a given airspeed), thus reducing the length of runway required to perform either maneuver.Īn exception to this rule is at airports where the runway is on a severe slope, such as alpine airports ( altiports). Pilots prefer to take off and land facing into the wind. At tower-controlled airports, air traffic control (ATC) may provide traffic advisories for VFR flights on a work-load permitting basis. Pilots flying under visual flight rules (VFR) may not be separated by air traffic control, so this consistent predictable pattern is a vital way to keep things orderly. By using a consistent flight pattern, pilots will know from where to expect other air traffic and be able to see and avoid it. The use of a pattern at airfields is for aviation safety. However, some kind of a pattern may be used at airports in some cases such as when an aircraft is required to go around, but this kind of pattern at controlled airports may be very different in form, shape, and purpose to the standard traffic pattern as used at GA airports. Many large controlled airports avoid the system unless there is GA activity as well as commercial flights. Patterns are usually employed at small general aviation (GA) airfields and military airbases. It differs from "straight-in approaches" and "direct climb-outs" in that an aircraft using a traffic pattern remains close to the airport. JSTOR ( December 2009) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Īn Airbus A330-300 of Turkish Airlines on short final to Heathrow Airport, immediately before landing.Īn airfield traffic pattern is a standard path followed by aircraft when taking off or landing while maintaining visual contact with the airfield.Īt an airport, the pattern (or circuit) is a standard path for coordinating air traffic.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: "Airfield traffic pattern" – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.
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