Approaching an Airport(from mdb 4-b Traffic Patterns)

Pre-Flight Planning

Determine Runways available and Runway lengths (from AF/D)

  • Compare performance data from POH with runway lengths

Check NOTAM’s for runway closures or other notices of hazard.

Pre-Pattern Entry (Controlled Airport):

Get ATIS well before entering airspace. Prepare for runway in use and wind.

Contact tower 10 miles out, provide position, altitude, ATIS, and intentions.

Depending on airspace, expect and wait for clearance. Adhere to airspace entry rules.

Readback instructions and do as instructed (if emergency, do what is necessary)

Pre-Pattern Entry (Uncontrolled Airport) BEFORE entering the Pattern:

1)Stay clear of the airport area while preparing (> 1 mile)

2)Determine wind direction and speed at airport

  • Use AWOS/ASOS
  • or, fly overhead above TPA and observe windsock or wind-T

3)Determine runway in use

  • Listen to CTAF for other traffic
  • or, Pick runway best alligned to land into the wind
  • or, Ask UNICOM for 'last runway in use'

4)Determine Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA)

  • From Airport Facility Directory (AF/D)
  • or, use Field elevation +1000ft
  • or, use tribal knowledge
  • or, ask UNICOM for 'Traffic Pattern Altitude'

5)Determine Left or Right hand pattern

  • From Airport Facility Directory (AF/D)
  • or, Overfly airport above TPA and look for segmented circle

6)If not on the correct side of the airport for entry:

  • Overfly airport above TPA to get to the correct side
  • or, go around the airport well away from pattern and get to the correct side.

7)Be at TPA before entering the pattern

8)Stay clear of the pattern while descending and getting a plan

  • Use descending turns when possible to get and give better visibility

9)Announce entry intentions on CTAF '..will be entering midfield, left downind for 33...'

Entering the Pattern at an Uncontrolled Airport

Be listening on the CTAF frequency as soon as possible

Plan to enter midfield on a 45 to downwind. Leave enough downwind leg remaining.

Announce intentions on CTAF before entering, when entering, and each leg

Be prepared to circle away from the pattern if conflicting traffic as you are entering.

Reduce speed in the pattern as appropriate

Maintain TPA until key position where you begin the descent

Have pre-landing checklist CGUMPSS complete well BEFORE key position