page_title: Airfield traffic pattern
section_title: Altitudes
hierarchical_section_title: Airfield traffic pattern / Altitudes
caption_attribution_description: English: Visual Circuit Chart (Airfield traffic pattern) of Eilat (Israel) Aerodrome.
context_page_description: An airfield traffic pattern is a standard path followed by aircraft when taking off or landing while maintaining visual contact with the airfield.
  At an airport, the pattern is a standard path for coordinating air traffic. It differs from "straight-in approaches" and "direct climb-outs" in that aircraft using a traffic pattern remain close to the airport. Patterns are usually employed at small general aviation airfields and military airbases. Many large controlled airports avoid the system unless there is GA activity as well as commercial flights. However, some kind of a pattern may be used at airports in some cases such as when an aircraft is required to go around, but this kind of pattern at controlled airports may be very different in form, shape, and purpose to the standard traffic pattern as used at GA airports.
  The use of a pattern at airfields is for aviation safety. By using a consistent flight pattern, pilots will know from where to expect other air traffic and be able to see and avoid it. Pilots flying under visual flight rules may not be separated by air traffic control, so this consistent predictable pattern is a vital way to keep things orderly.
context_section_description: An aerodrome publishes a "circuit height" or "pattern altitude", that is, a nominal level above the field at which pilots are required (recommended in the US, FAA AC90-66A Para. 8c) to fly while in the circuit. Unless otherwise specified, the standard recommended pattern height is 1000 ft AGL (above ground level), although a pattern height of 800 ft AGL is common. Helicopters usually fly the pattern at 500 ft AGL. Extreme caution must be exercised by pilots while flying at or through published traffic pattern altitudes as this might contribute to mid-air collisions.
caption: Traffic pattern of Eilat Airfield (Israel). Note different pattern altitudes for heavy aircraft and ultralights/helicopters
exif: {"Image ImageWidth": "1627", "Image ImageLength": "2450", "Image Make": "Epson", "Image Model": "PerfectionV700", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "300", "Image YResolution": "300", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 Windows", "Image DateTime": "2009:10:05 11:52:38", "Image ExifOffset": "256", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "426", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "6775", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2009:10:05 11:50:39", "EXIF ColorSpace": "Uncalibrated", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "1627", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2450"}