Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

2 Answers

Traffic Pattern

Asked by: 4493 views Airspace, FAA Regulations

Hello,

When approaching (VFR only) an uncontrolled airport, at how many miles from the airport should you already be established at the proper traffic pattern altitude prior to entering the traffic pattern?

 

 

 

 

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

2 Answers



  1. Ernest R Ortner III on Mar 21, 2013

    That is to be determined by the pilot. If you choose to descend to pattern altitude at 10NM out and it can be done safely than it can be done. As far as the AIM states it is ideal to be at pattern altitude before entering the pattern. Right of way rules start to take effect in the pattern that whoever is lower in altitude has the right of way, not to be used to take advantage of a situation. The field I got my private license at it was common practice to descend to PA while on the 45. Some might say you should already be established by that point. It is also a point that if you are going to an uncontrolled field with no weather equipment and no traffic you should over fly the field 500′ above traffic pattern altitude to figure winds and the pattern for that airport. Then descend while maneuvering for a 45 entry into the pattern for the runway you are going to land on. There are no regulatory requirements for this situation. As a disclaimer I am not a CFI, so you don’t have to take my answer to the bank.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. Bob Watson on Mar 22, 2013

    I try to plan my descent so that I’m at the TPA when I enter the 45. My feeling is that when I report “on the 45” and “on downwind,” that’s where other people in the pattern will be looking.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.