Airport and Traffic Pattern Operations
What the examiner is testing
This domain tests towered and non-towered airport operations: pattern legs, radio calls, signs and markings, runway incursion avoidance, wake turbulence, right-of-way, and ATC clearances. The MEI must teach both the procedures and the judgment behind them.
Pattern and communications
- Standard legs are upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, and final. Left traffic is standard unless the chart or airport indicates right traffic.
- A recommended piston pattern altitude is 1,000 feet AGL, adjusted for local procedures and noise abatement.
- At a non-towered field, enter at pattern altitude, preferably midfield downwind at about 45 degrees to the downwind leg. Announce position and intentions on CTAF at the recommended distance, before pattern entry, on each leg, and on final.
- Avoid straight-in approaches at non-towered fields when other traffic is established; they are difficult for others to see and anticipate.
- Right-of-way: converging aircraft of the same category give way to the one on the right; head-on both give way to the right; overtaking gives way to the overtaken aircraft; landing aircraft have priority over surface movement.
Signs, markings, and wake turbulence
- Mandatory instruction signs are red with white letters; location signs are black with yellow letters; direction signs are yellow with black letters.
- Runway holding position markings are four yellow lines, two solid and two dashed. Do not cross without clearance at a towered field.
- Wake turbulence sinks and drifts with the wind. Land beyond the preceding aircraft's touchdown point and stay above its flight path; take off before its rotation point and climb above its path.
Worked example
You approach from the south to runway 18 with wind 200 at 8 knots, left traffic. Runway 18 landing heading is 180 degrees. The wind is from 200 degrees, about 20 degrees right of the nose, so it is a right crosswind on final. Left traffic for runway 18 places the downwind leg east of the runway. From the south, the cleanest entry is to overfly at pattern altitude plus 500 feet, descend on the upwind side, and enter the 45-degree left downwind. The reasoning: the entry keeps you clear of the final approach course and gives other traffic time to see and hear you.
Traps that cost marks
- Broadcasting any traffic in the area, please advise instead of a position and intention report.
- Entering on base or final without announcing or clearing the area.
- Crossing a runway holding position marking without an explicit clearance.
- Following a heavy aircraft too closely or landing short of its touchdown point.
- Ignoring LAHSO, runway closures, or a displaced threshold during the approach briefing.