What is the proper way to join the traffic pattern in the USA?

Question

What are the procedures for controlled and uncontrolled. In Canada, uncontrolled airports must be joined, straight in downwind, crossing midfield, or (500' overhead, descending and then crossing midfield.) While controlled airports tell the aircraft whatever tower decides - straight final, right base etc. How different is it in the USA?

Answer 1

All the American pilots I see think that you just go straight in to an uncontrolled airport.

Answer 2

Safest bet is to enter on the 45 angle on the downwind leg if uncontrolled airfield, although guys(and gals) sometimes come in from whereever they please and land however they please. If its towered they'll let you know how they want you to enter.

Answer 3

Its standard to announce that you are at least a few miles out and intend to overfly the field at 1000ft above the pattern altitude, which is 1000ft itself. After overflying the field to judge the wind direction, you then announce your intentions to put yourself in the pattern.

It is also standard to start and end each radio call with the name of the airport and the word "traffic" followed by your identifier, and also end the transmission with the name of the airport.

An example would be "Woolsey traffic cessna two-two-three-lima-papa, 10 miles out to the southwest incoming for a overflight of the field at two thousand five hundred feet, Woolsey"

It is uncommon for most aircraft to complete the whole procedure, since there are only 1.6 aircraft per airport in the US and its not common to see another small plane in the traffic pattern. Most of the times the first sign of another aircraft is when they are about to hit me lol. Just keep your eyes open, there are alot of cocky impatient pilots who dont bother with calls or windsocks.

Answer 4

Unless otherwise instructed, by a controller or a segmented circle, the traffic pattern is all left hand turns.  It may be entered on either upwind, crosswind, or downwind, but the safest manner is the standard 45 degree entry to the downwind leg and then all left hand turns.

Answer 5

straight in approaches (at uncontrolled fields)  would not be so bad if all could judge distances accurately. I hear all the time...cherokee xxxx 2 mile final, rwy 21....... I am on down wind with a presolo primary student, looking, and looking, and looking, and looking, mean while Me and my student have headed out on an unplanned x-country  with three in trail on the down wind looking, and looking.. we hear, cherokee xxxx short final 21.... WE are 3.5 miles from the threshold! coulda done three touch and goes by the time this clown had completed his straight in 15 mile final....

Folks practicing instrument approaches I dont mind I, just wish they would break it off and go missed in time as to not disrupt the pattern ( I insist my Instrument student s do this, unless they want to full stop.) safer and more of a good neighbor thing for me.

Answer 6

If your on the downwind side of the circuit then a 45 degree entry is preferred. If you are on the other side then crossing midfield at pattern altitude or slightly higher is preferred, then you enter the downwind.

Answer 7

Standard is Left Hand Pattern - Enter on a 45 degree to downwind, at published Traffic Pattern Altitude, usually either 800 feet agl or 1200 feet agl.  Use CTAF in uncontrolled airspace - Controller will direct you in controlled airspace.

I've only had two airports (that I routinely fly into) that have right hand patterns.

Here's what I usually do at an airport unfamiliar to me - Fly perpindicular to runway at least 1000 feet above traffic pattern altitude published in the AFD.  I will then start a descent of 500 fpm, with standard rate s-turns as I descend, and end up making a right turn into a 45 degree to a left downwind about 3 miles from the downwind entry point.  This gives me plenty of time to setup airspeed, etc, and run through my pre-landing pattern checklist.

Hope that helps.  Have fun flying...