Respect the Pattern at All Times

It's more than altitude and entries when it comes to airport traffic.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 07:02 PM ET

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It's important do your homework and pay attention in the pattern, especially when visiting an unfamiliar airport. [Pixabay]

Key Takeaways:

A dangerous incident at a nontowered airport highlighted the critical safety risks posed by pilots and instructors who fail to conduct proper pre-flight planning and adhere to standard traffic pattern procedures.
The article stresses the importance of thoroughly learning airport-specific procedures, such as traffic pattern direction and altitude, on the ground using official resources like VFR sectionals, chart supplements, and the AIM.
Pilots must prioritize safety and situational awareness in the traffic pattern, understanding that procedures can vary for different aircraft types and that departing the pattern is often safer than insisting on right-of-way.

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It was a bright spring day, perfect for a first solo. I sent a fledgling up at the nontowered airport with instructions to do three takeoffs and landings, then return to the ramp. There was another first solo already underway. Traffic pattern altitude (TPA) at the airport is 1,500 feet msl. Field elevation is 472 feet. There is one runway, 15/33. This information is published on the VFR sectional, and in the chart supplement. And, one would think, this information would be accessed and or referred to by the pilot in command of any aircraft before arriving at the airport.

I watched the first lap, hand-held radio in hand. It went great, so I ducked back inside the FBO to answer a question from the office manager about the schedule. I hadn’t been inside for more than five minutes when one of the airport regulars came in saying, “There is someone flying right traffic for Runway 15. And they are low.”