Traffic Pattern Entries

Making right turns to join left-hand traffic patterns is not a FAR violation because ‘vicinity’ is not defined.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Monday, January 22, 2024 at 08:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A pilot questioned a recommended traffic pattern entry for non-towered airports, arguing that its initial right turn after crossing upwind contradicts FARs 91.126/91.127, which generally require left turns in the airport's vicinity.
The FAA clarified that this maneuver is considered to occur "clear of the traffic pattern" and before "approaching the airport," thus exempting it from the left-turn requirements of the cited regulations.
While acknowledging ambiguity in the definitions of "vicinity" and "approaching the airport," the FAA stated they do not believe a regulatory violation exists and are unlikely to enforce turn direction outside the established traffic pattern.

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Responding to the article “Parallel Runway Traps” in our October 2023 issue, reader and ATP/CFI Jerrold Seckler took us to task for an image showing an airplane crossing over a non-towered airport from the upwind side and then executing a right turn to enter the traffic pattern. The FAA’s version of this image, the left panel of figure 8-3 in the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH, FAA-H-8083-3C), is reproduced at right.

Jerrold wrote to point out the image’s recommendation would seem to be in violation of “FARs 91.126 and 91.127, which require all turns be made to the left when operating in the vicinity of an airport in Class G or E airspace unless right turns are specified.”