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Altitudes |
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| • | Pattern altitude, unless otherwise specified, is 1,000 feet above the airport or 1,500 feet for turbine aircraft. |
| • | Pattern altitude for ultralights is 500 feet below the normal pattern altitude. |
| • | Airport over flights should be at least 1,000 feet above the pattern altitude. |
The downwind leg should be flown parallel and about ½ mile to
the left of the runway
Remain at pattern altitude on downwind until you reach the runway threshold.
Base leg should be flown about ¼ mile from the end of the runway
See and be seen. Turn on your landing light on final.
Drop or raise wing before making turns so you can check for traffic.
Unicom radio traffic in our area is very busy. Make only necessary calls. A call on downwind and final is often sufficient. Repeat the name of the airport clearly at the beginning AND at the end of transmission.
Most accidents occur within 3,000 feet and 3 to 5 miles of an airport.
Particularly during takeoffs and landings, it is important to maintain
a sterile cockpit.
During marginal weather, watch for IFR traffic coming out of the clouds
Always be prepared to do a go around
Practice Go Arounds |
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1• |
Power up |
2• |
Pitch up |
3• |
Clean up |
An excellent in-depth review of this topic can be found in AOPA's Safe Pilots, Safe Skys series publication titled Operations at Nontowered Airports. http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/sa08.pdf
