Prepare for: Radio Calls and Traffic Patterns
Entering, flying and departing the pattern correctly at towered and non-towered airports, with standard phraseology and light-gun signals.
Your CFI's syllabus and your airplane's POH come first. This page is a general study aid to help you show up prepared.
What you'll do
- At non-towered airports, enter on the 45° to the downwind at pattern altitude (commonly 1,000 ft AGL; check the Chart Supplement).
- Make position reports on the CTAF: name the airport at the start and end of each call.
- At towered airports, contact the tower before entering Class D and follow instructions exactly; read back runway assignments.
- Fly downwind parallel to the runway, start the descent abeam the touchdown point, and turn base and final to stay stabilized.
- Know light-gun signals in case of radio failure: steady green = cleared to land (air) or cleared for takeoff (ground).
The standard you'll be held to
Quoted from the current FAA Airman Certification Standards for each level that tests this.
Private Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-6C)Task PA.III.A · Communications, Light Signals, and Runway Lighting Systems
- Select and activate appropriate frequencies.
- Transmit using standard phraseology and procedures as specified in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and Pilot/Controller Glossary.
- Acknowledge radio communications and comply with ATC instructions or as directed by the evaluator.
Private Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-6C)Task PA.III.B · Traffic Patterns
- Identify and interpret airport/seaplane base runways, taxiways, markings, signs, and lighting.
- Comply with recommended traffic pattern procedures.
- Correct for wind drift to maintain the proper ground track.
- Maintain orientation with the runway/landing area in use.
- Maintain traffic pattern altitude, ±100 feet, and the appropriate airspeed, ±10 knots.
- Maintain situational awareness and proper spacing from other aircraft in the traffic pattern.
Read it in the FAA handbooks
The official chapters behind this page. Each link opens the exact chapter, free on faa.gov. See the full Study Library.
Prepare the night before
- Read the airport's Chart Supplement entry: pattern altitude and direction.
- Write out each radio call for the pattern.
- Memorize the light-gun signal table (AIM 4-3-13).
Common mistakes
- Overshooting the turn to final (a common setup for a stall-spin).
- Unclear or rambling radio calls.
- Entering the pattern without looking for traffic already in it.
Questions to ask your instructor
- Which pattern entry do you prefer at this airport?
- Can we practice a radio-failure scenario?
Related lessons
Check yourself
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