A Beginner's Guide to VFR Traffic Patterns at Uncontrolled Airports

#trafficpattern #vfr #msfs2020
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This episode shows the basics of flying in the airport traffic pattern which would be flown when staying in the traffic pattern for touch-and-go landings.
Methods for determining the direction of traffic, radio procedures, and traffic pattern altitude are shown. Upwind, departure, crosswind, base, and final approach legs are shown in this traffic pattern flown in a no-wind situation.
Aircraft procedures are general in nature and can vary between aircraft and are not intended to replace procedures specific to any aircraft or approved checklist.
This video is for entertainment purposes only and it NOT meant to replace flight or ground instruction from a qualified flight instructor.
If you are preparing for a Private Pilot checkride, this oral exam guide is a must buy. I used it myself back in the 90s and had all my students use it to prepare for checkrides when working as a Flight Instructor - amzn.to/3Cgbl7X
Get Airport Specific Information - FAA Chart Supplement: www.faa.gov/air_traffic/fligh...
For more information:
FAA Airplane Flying Handbook - www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/fil...
Advisory Circular - 90-66B: www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/m...
Bad Ideas - Silent Film Dark by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
0:00 - Intro
0:15 - Traffic Pattern Purpose
0:24 - Basics of the Traffic Pattern
1:08 - Left or Right Pattern?
2:12 - Traffic Pattern Altitude
2:55 - Departure Leg
3:40 - Crosswind Leg
4:20 - Downwind Leg
4:45 - When to Descend?
5:20 - When to Turn Base?
6:00 - Final Approach
6:10 - Additional Resources - Link in Description

[@Deanjacob7]

I’m sorry but I will always add left or right when stating leg of pattern it’s so easy and adds extra situational awareness. A good pilot will know what direction of pattern but I’ve encountered people landing opposite runway of me while I’m on final no radio calls some old heads out there really don’t follow the rules sometimes and adding that extra drop of situational awareness to others in pattern just makes me feel a little more comfortable

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

I was just going by the book with proper phraseology. Personally, when I fly a traffic pattern I do not use left or right in front of the leg being flown. There are a lot of different techniques and phraseology that pilots use that are not by the book but are still safe. Over the years there have been quite a few close calls in the traffic pattern that I can remember while flying. Having your eyes outside and using good communications is a huge help but some pilots do not follow the rules/procedures and they put everyone in danger. If it works for you and keeps you and others safe then by all means, continue doing it.

[@Deanjacob7]

@@thecorporatepilotdad Thank you!

[@Stumpchunkman226]

Same.

[@KoopDoggggg]

Passed my CPAER (cpl written exam) earlier this morning and I’ve probably flown over 100 circuits this month alone but i still find this video interesting! Keep it up captain!!

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

Congrats on the Commercial written. When is the commercial checkride? If you go on to instruct, you'll probably end up doing 100 circuits a week at times.

[@KoopDoggggg]

@@thecorporatepilotdad whenever I reach the minimum hour requirements 150hr total 50hr PIC cross country I believe. Not planning on instructing however…I’m seeing caravan jobs flying in northern canada pop up often. That’s the goal to achieve before years end!

[@ryu1940]

Great video. It is very informative and to the point. The production quality with the diagrams are great too. Good job! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I just started flying on pilotedge to learn more and part of that for me is flying around in patterns to get it down. This video helps.

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

Thank you. PilotEdge is such a great tool for learning radio phraseology. I’m on PilotEdge also. If you hear the tail number in the video (784TC) be sure to say hello.

[@ryu1940]

@@thecorporatepilotdad sounds good! I’m 304RS.

[@OddGoderstad]

I miss some talk about keeping good lookout, exp. on base, for aircraft flying long final. I like this format👍😊

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

There is another video on the channel about pattern entry which also hits more in the area of looking for traffic in the pattern. This was intended to be basic and emphasize a difference between upwind and departure legs.

[@iliasfaqir]

Good stuff! Just a note, there's a recent AC (2018) that talks about the recommended pattern entry if you're coming in from the non pattern side.
www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/ac_90-66b.pdf
Also, I do think it's beneficial to state the direction of the pattern leg (left/right). If anything, someone listening might not have remembered or checked the traffic pattern direction (sometimes changed and listed in NOTAMs). Just being cautious.

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

This AC was used in the video and referenced in the video and linked in the description. Saying the direction of the pattern doesn’t hurt, but I was following the FAA guidelines in the AFH and AC 90-66b. The AC also says not to use “any traffic in the area please advise” but is still used. My intent was to use standardized phraseology but knowing full well general practices used by many pilots may not follow the FAA’s written word. Many pilots still use procedures that work such as “any traffic in the area please advise”.

[@iliasfaqir]

@@thecorporatepilotdad excellent! I missed the part about the AC.

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

@@iliasfaqir no worries. There is a lot of good information in that advisory circular. Too bad hardly anyone reads them. That’s just my observation.

[@jacobbesele8713]

thanks for 100% video my Man 💪

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

You’re welcome.

[@antonioiozzi9171]

I have seen that in the USA in uncontrolled airports they use to say the airport name even at the end of communication once more. IE " Marco island N345DC final, RW 08, Marco Island" . Am I right?

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

Yes, some pilots do say the airport twice. That’s not standard phraseology. That could be a carry over from the old days when “with you” was also standard phraseology.

[@antonioiozzi9171]

@@thecorporatepilotdad thanks, in Europe nobody say the airport name twice.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

A Map are you kidding me? Seriously? Just yanking your chain we all knew you meant to say chart! 🤣🛫 Great video!

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

It was called a map in the intro just like the diagram was called a picture. Wait until I talk about scoreboards again.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

@@thecorporatepilotdad you crack me up! I thought about you Thursday night I went my grandson’s JV foot ball game! And guess what I saw? And no it was not a Flight Mode Annunciator! 😁🛫

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

@@TheFalconJetDriver maybe the scoreboard was in home and visitor mode?

[@AlexanderGarzon]

Don't add flaps if you're not in white arc!

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

With flaps 0-10 degrees the limit is 110 knots. It’s on the flap placard as well. For any flap setting above 10 degrees the white arc is used. Many Cessna aircraft have a flap setting up to around 10 degrees where flaps can be added well above the white arc. Also, jet aircraft do not have a white arc but also have multiple speeds for flap extension similar to the 172.

[@judgeberry6071]

I'm still practicing as a noob in my Cessna 152 on MFS20. I find all the patterns and protocols very confusing. However this video is a great start and I've definitely learnt something today. Cheers 😊👍

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

Patterns are easier when drawn out on a piece of paper by drawing the pattern (left or right traffic) and then the direction the airplane is coming from and determining the entry method that way. Glad to hear you found the video helpful.