Lesson 16: Traffic patterns and right of way

Welcome! 

Traffic Patterns & Headwinds 

Today's 🔑 Word! 

A traffic pattern is the ‘standard’ path that all aircraft have to follow when taking off, landing, or maneuvering around an airport. Usually, these routes involve turning left. 

This helps manage air traffic and ensures safe flights.

Air traffic patterns are the usual routes that airplanes follow when taking off, landing, and flying near airports. Usually, these routes involve making all turns to the left.

Let’s continue the conversation about airports! If you are flying near one, you should know about aircraft ‘traffic patterns.’ 

Let’s review what ‘air traffic patterns’ are! 

A traffic pattern is the standard path that airplanes must use when they take off, land, and navigate near an airport.

Did you know that the usual traffic pattern in an airport is a “left pattern”? This means all turns are made to the left, unless something weird happens.

When a plane is taking off, landing, or maneuvering around the airport, it needs to only make left turns. See if you notice this if you ever take a plane!

This is the case at most typical airports, but remember that not every airport is a “standard” airport.  

Just remember: Airplane pilots have to follow the specific traffic pattern designated for each airport. 

You might see this on the test! If the FAA ever asks, say this. It’s whatever you say, boss! 

Most often, that will be a left pattern. But the bottom line is, the pattern is whatever the FAA says it is.

In ideal situations, aircraft should take off and land into a headwind, which means a wind that is facing the head (or front) of the airplane. 

Today's 🔑 Word! 

Headwind

Headwind is wind that blows directly towards the front of something, so it goes against the wind. 

When the wind blows directly against the direction an aircraft is flying in, it slows it down. 

Pilots should take off into a headwind. This gives the aircraft or drone extra lift and makes takeoff easier and safer.

Pilots should land into a headwind, too! It helps slow the aircraft down and provide better control during the landing process.

Fun Fact: Runways are often built and designed to match up with normal wind patterns in the area!

That was cool! What else do we need to know about Aircraft Traffic Patterns?

So, planes have to be at a specific altitude before they enter the airport and its traffic pattern! The altitude depends on the airport, and all that information can be found in the chart supplement!  

To safely join the flight path around an airport, planes should aim to enter at a 45° angle to the middle of the path that’s at the opposite the runway (called the downwind leg) and at the correct altitude.

As a drone pilot, you might want to know this info,  because you don’t want to fly directly where 

airplanes are entering the traffic pattern!

You’ll often see phrases like “downwind leg” or “upwind leg” when talking about airport traffic patterns. They might even show up on the exam!

Today’s 🔑 Word!

Downwind and Upwind Legs

• Downwind Leg: The part of a plane's flight pattern where it flies parallel to the runway, but in the opposite direction of landing.

• Upwind Leg: The part of a plane's flight pattern where it flies in the same direction as takeoff, parallel to the runway.

Upwind is the part of the flight path where the plane takes off or flies parallel to the runway, moving against the wind.

Downwind is the opposite. The plane still flies parallel to the runway, but in the opposite direction of landing, and moving with the wind.

The downwind leg is the path an airplane flies in parallel to the landing runway, but in a direction opposite to the intended landing direction.

Hint: the airplane will be flying 180 degrees opposite of where the runway is facing. 

Pilots should not enter the traffic pattern while descending. This is a collision hazard!

Weather can affect the traffic pattern. For example, it takes longer and requires more distance for a plane to take off, climb to pattern altitude, and land on a hot or humid day.

Why should drone pilots care about manned aircraft patterns near airports?

The number one answer is always safety. It’s important to maintain situational awareness when flying around airports. 

By knowing when and where airplanes are flying, you can take the proper steps to minimize your risk of collisions and other incidents.

Awesome! That was pretty dense. But we’ll get the hang of it. Next up, let’s talk about drones versus planes, and who has the right of way! 

As a drone pilot, you can’t fly your drone in a way that disrupts the operations or traffic patterns at any airport, ever! 

This is true in every airspace you’re in – even if you’re not near an airport. Other aircraft always come first. 

Great! Now, let’s talk about ‘See and Avoid Rules.’ 

As the remote pilot, if you’re flying near aircraft, only you are responsible for staying away from them. Give them the right of way, and avoid any hazards that could affect your drone's operation.

Today’s 🔑 Word!

See and Avoid Rules

• The "see and avoid" rule means that pilots must always look out for other aircraft and obstacles while flying and be ready to move to avoid hitting them.

• To comply with See and Avoid requirements, a Remote PIC cannot use a first-person view camera or binoculars to assist–this only applies to right of way rules. 

To follow the "See and Avoid" rules, drone pilots can’t rely on a first-person view camera or binoculars – just your eyes! 

Pilots can only use their own diligence and natural, unaided eyesight – it’s totally okay 

if you wear glasses or contacts!  

You can use binoculars to help you improve your sense of situational awareness, which means being aware of your surroundings. 

Today’s 🔑 Word!

See and Avoid Rules

To follow the "See and Avoid" rules, drone pilots can’t rely on a first-person view camera or binoculars for right of way rules.

Only a Remote PIC’s diligence, or own natural unaided eyesight efforts (glasses and contacts are OK) can be used.  

Binoculars CAN be used for help with basic situational awareness, though.

Nice! Now, let’s talk about who has the right of way, which is something all transportation has in common! 

Aircraft that you always have to give the right-of-way to: 

1. An aircraft in an emergency always has the right of way over all other air traffic.

2. Helicopters, gliders, powered parachutes, and balloons have priority over drones.

Also, just remember that the smallest aircraft always has to stop (or yield) and give bigger aircraft the right of way! Makes sense?

Who has the right of way?

If you’re flying near aircraft, as the remote pilot, only you are responsible for staying away from them, giving them the right of way, and avoiding any hazards that could affect your drone's operation.

What happens if you come across a drone similar in size to yours? This is a pretty specific rule. It’s fun to know, but hopefully won’t happen to you. 

If you are flying a fixed-wing drone, and are heading towards another fixed-wing drone that’s a similar size, both pilots should change their direction to the right. 

Today’s 🔑 Word!

Visual Line of Sight

Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) means that the pilot can see their drone with their own eyes (without using binoculars or a camera) at all times while flying.

Phew! You’ve done a great job so far! 

Let’s take a much-deserved break. 

Let’s go through one of the airport questions on the Part 107 exam.

We can start with a pretty simple one. 

“A pilot is using Runway 22 to take off. Which direction is the airplane headed?”

First, let’s decode which way Runway 22 is facing.

It’ll be 220° right? Since runways are named after the direction they’re facing with the zero removed.

But which way is 220°? Let’s revisit our compass. 

Runway 22 points toward 220 degrees, so when planes take off or land on this runway, they head in the direction of 220 degrees, which is southwest on a compass.

Let’s kick it up a notch with the next question. 

“You hear an airplane pilot announce that they are midfield left downwind to RWY 13. Where is the airplane in relation to the runway?”

Whoa! That’s a bit more confusing. But, let’s start with figuring out which way the runway is facing. What’s RWY 13?

It’s Runway 13, and it’s facing 130°. Let’s see how that looks on our compass.

This runway is aligned in the direction of 130 degrees on a compass, which points southeast. So, when planes take off or land on Runway 13, they are heading southeast.

Since we’re not told otherwise, let’s assume this airport has a normal left traffic pattern.

Now, let’s decode what “midfield left downwind” means.

“Midfield” means the plane is about halfway down the length of the runway.

“Left Downwind” means the plane is flying parallel to the runway, but in the opposite direction to the takeoff/landing direction (downwind), and the runway is on the plane's left side.

Since the runway is 130 degrees (southeast), the opposite direction (downwind) is 310 degrees (northwest).

Given the plane is "midfield left downwind," it is flying parallel to the runway, going northwest, with the runway to its left. Therefore, the plane is to the east of the runway.

It really helps to sketch everything out for these types of questions! Remember, you’ll have a piece of scrap paper for the test.

• In general, the first thing you want to do is figure out which way the runway is facing. 

• Then, identify the compass directions. For example, 130 degrees is southeast, while 310 degrees is northwest.

• Third, decode the terms, like “upwind”, “downwind”, and “midfield” to understand the plane’s position.

• Finally, visualize the scenario. Draw a picture, label the runway and the way the plane is heading. Always assume a left traffic pattern unless you’re told otherwise!

Let’s do one more. “You hear an airplane pilot announce that they’re ‘left downwind for runway 16’. What is the plane’s heading?”

Let’s figure out which way the runway is pointing. Runway 16 means it is pointed toward 160 degrees on a compass, which is roughly southeast

Again, let’s assume a left traffic pattern.

"Midfield” means the plane is halfway down the length of the runway.

"Left downwind" means the plane is flying parallel to the runway but in the opposite direction of landing or taking off.

Since the traffic pattern is left-handed, the runway will always be on the left side of the plane when it’s on the downwind leg.

To figure out which way the plane is flying on the downwind leg, we need to find the opposite direction of the runway heading.

The runway is 160 degrees, so the opposite direction is 160 degrees + 180 degrees (to get to the opposite side of the compass), which equals 340 degrees.

These questions are pretty tricky, but you’ll get the hang of them!  

Great work! I see you’re all a few steps closer to becoming a certified drone pilot.