The Traffic Pattern

The Rectangle Around the Runway

Imagine an invisible racetrack in the sky shaped like a rectangle, with the runway along one side. That is the traffic pattern. Every airplane flies the same shape in the same direction, so nobody bumps into anyone. It has five parts, called legs.

Upwind

The leg right after takeoff, pointing the same way as the runway. You climb straight ahead.

Crosswind

Your first turn, 90 degrees to the left. You keep climbing here.

Downwind

You turn again and fly parallel to the runway, going the opposite direction. This is where you cruise at pattern altitude.

Base

A short turning leg that connects downwind to the runway.

Final

The last leg — you are pointed straight at the runway, ready to land.

Most patterns use all left turns. The few airports with right turns have it marked on the chart so pilots always know which way to go. Pattern altitude is usually 1,000 feet above the airport — high enough to be safe, low enough to stay close.

Instructor Setup

Cessna 172 with G1000, positioned ready for departure at the runway threshold, engine running, flaps up. Plan about 20 minutes. Use a familiar non-towered field so the focus stays on flying the rectangle, not radio work (that comes in K32).

Session Flow

1. Pattern walkthrough (3 min). Use the G1000 map and a quick sketch to name the five legs and the standard left-turn direction. Confirm pattern altitude (1,000 ft AGL) and the 500 ft AGL crosswind-turn cue.
2. Takeoff and upwind (4 min). Full power smoothly, right rudder for centerline, rotate around 55-60 knots, climb at Vy (74 knots) straight ahead.
3. Crosswind and downwind (6 min). At ~500 ft AGL turn left to crosswind; at pattern altitude turn left to downwind. Level off, reduce to ~2,300 RPM, trim, and track parallel to the runway.
4. Abeam the numbers (4 min). Reduce power and begin the descent abeam the touchdown point. Have the student point to each leg as they fly it.
5. Wrap (3 min). Recap the leg order and preview "Radio Calls."

Keep banks gentle and let the student fly the turns. The goal is the shape and the rhythm, not a landing today.

Debrief

Confirm the student can name the legs in order and flew the rectangle with the correct turns before moving on.

• Named all five legs: upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, final
• Turned left at the right cues (crosswind at ~500 ft, downwind at pattern altitude)
• Leveled off and held pattern altitude on downwind
• Reduced power and began the descent abeam the numbers

Next Lesson

Next up is "Radio Calls" (K32): announcing where you are on each leg of the pattern so other pilots know your position. If the leg order felt shaky today, spend the first two minutes of K32 reviewing the rectangle before adding the radio.

Skills You'll Work On

These are the maneuvers and procedures covered in this lesson. Your instructor tracks each one as you progress.

• Normal Takeoff & Departure
• Traffic Pattern Entry
• Altitude Speed Config & Trim

Grades reflect what was covered in this lesson, not a certification of pilot competency.

Lesson Plan

Where this fits: First of three sessions drawn from PPL Lesson 11, "Takeoff and Climb to Downwind." This session covers flying the full traffic-pattern shape; K32 adds radio calls and K33 adds the touch-and-go landing.

Prerequisite

Comfortable with takeoff, climbing, turning, and leveling off (Stage 1 lessons).

Materials

C172 G1000 simulator, pattern diagram card, headset sized for the student.

Goal for this session

Student can fly a complete left-hand traffic pattern, naming each leg and turning at the correct cues while holding pattern altitude.

Looking Ahead

• K32 — Radio Calls: announcing your position on each leg using the CTAF.
• K33 — Touch and Go: flying the whole pattern through to a landing and immediate takeoff.