Traffic Pattern Requirements

[ToolTimeTabor]

Q1. Is it "legal" to execute a "right base" to final at an uncontrolled airfield?

Discussion.

We all know that the FAA has recommended traffic pattern procedures, which basically result in "left turns" to form a rectangle. Advisory Circular 90-66A discusses the "Recommended Standard Traffic Pattern" in paragraph 8.

We also know that the reason for having standard procedures is to improve safety and to assist pilots in sequencing themselves at uncontrolled airports.

With this said, there is at least one "exception" cited in AC 90-66A, in paragraph 7.c, it talks about "straight-in" approaches. It "encourages" pilots to use the "standard traffic pattern," but goes on to give guidance about performing a straight-in.

So the question is, is it "legal" to execute a "right base" to final at an uncontrolled airfield? For example, imagine arriving from the Northwest to land to the South on Runway 18. You can "legally" intercept the 18 bearing far enough north, turn to runway heading, and execute a straight-in approach provided you execute the approach without disrupting the "flow of arriving and departing traffic."

Given that the base leg is setting up final, is there any legal constraint/regulation that prevents doing and announcing a "right base" to set up that final? Could a pilot be cited by the FAA for not conforming to the "recommended" traffic pattern?

Keep in mind, I am not asking if it is good practice, but simply whether it is a citable offense.

If so, can you provide an FAR reference? Thanks.

 

[haskell99]

§91.126 Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class G airspace.
(a) General. Unless otherwise authorized or required, each person operating an aircraft on or in the vicinity of an airport in a Class G airspace area must comply with the requirements of this section.

(b) Direction of turns. When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace—

(1) Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns of that airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right;

Straight in would be legal since no turns are made.

 

[ToolTimeTabor]

Awesome!

That is exactly what I needed. Thanks.

 

[Jaybird180]

§91.126 Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class G airspace.
(a) General. Unless otherwise authorized or required, each person operating an aircraft on or in the vicinity of an airport in a Class G airspace area must comply with the requirements of this section.

(b) Direction of turns. When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace—

(1) Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns of that airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right;

Straight in would be legal since no turns are made.

How does the FAA define vicinity?

 

[N801BH]

How does the FAA define vicinity?

Easy.....

Vicinity = Airport Traffic Area.....

 

[LDJones]

§91.126 Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class G airspace.
(a) General. Unless otherwise authorized or required, each person operating an aircraft on or in the vicinity of an airport in a Class G airspace area must comply with the requirements of this section.

(b) Direction of turns. When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace—

(1) Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns of that airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right;

Straight in would be legal since no turns are made.

I suspect the vast majority of airports are in Class E airspace.

 

[eetrojan]

I suspect the vast majority of airports are in Class E airspace.

Same diff. 91.127(a) says people operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class E airspace, unless instructed otherwise, must comply with 91.126.

 

[Blackhawk]

How does the FAA define vicinity?

I will have to find the case, but they once defined it as within 5 miles.

Do NOT call right base into a non-towered airport. You are straight in. Trust me on this one.

 

[MAKG1]

If you must do a "right base," a left 270 is legal, but not advisible.

 

[poadeleted20]

How does the FAA define vicinity?

It's defined in case law, not regulations. It's essentially about 2-3 miles from the airport depending on the size of the aircraft. See Administrator v. Boardman and the cases cited therein. In fact, that case specifically involved an aircraft making a right turn to join the final at a nontowered ("uncontrolled") airport where left traffic was required by regulation.

 

[Palmpilot]

I suspect the vast majority of airports are in Class E airspace.

Around here, airports with a class E surface area are a small minority.

 

[MAKG1]

Around here, airports with a class E surface area are a small minority.

But those with a Class E pattern are not.

700 AGL.

Not that it matters. The reg applies to all nontowered airports.

 

[BillTIZ]

But those with a Class E pattern are not.

700 AGL.

Not that it matters. The reg applies to all nontowered airports.

Agreed, it applies to all.

But my Class G airport has Class E at 1200 AGL.
And I know a few that start at 10,xxx and 14,500 MSL.

 

[gismo]

FWIW, I believe that the FAA considers an airplane within +/-30 degrees of the runway heading to be on final so you aren't in violation if you need to make a 20° right "correction" to line up with the runway when the traffic pattern is left.

 

[Norman]

Due to rising terrain to the east, Rutland, VT traffic pattern for runway 19 is right hand.

 

[Geico266]

If there is no traffic I just call out my intentions. I occasionally make a right turn to final if there is no other traffic. Keeps the number of over head breaks to a minimum.

 

[MAKG1]

It's not a good idea to post evidence of an illegal act in a public location. Or to assume you see all the NORDO traffic when you're flying an illegal pattern.

 

[Geico266]

If there is no traffic I just call out my intentions. I occasionally make a right turn to final if there is no other traffic. Keeps the number of over head breaks to a minimum.

I'll even post it again, how's that?

Oh, and please call the Local FSDO and tell them you saw a guy in the pattern make a right hand turn. See how excited they get.

You guys crack me up sometimes.

 

[FastEddieB]

Here's a quick walk, treading a fine line between paranoia and preaching...

The "paranoid" part:

I would be extremely circumspect to post any willful violation of law online.

I readily post some of the doofus mistakes I've made, as a backdrop to human fallibility. Or mine, at least. But willful violations?

One can imagine a scenario where a pilot is involved in a midair, while flying right traffic when it was not called for. Good news - the pilot survived. Bad news - the instructor and the student in the other plane, flying an appropriate left pattern, did not. More bad news - enforcement action involving revocation of the first pilot's certificates is begun. Even more bad news - a low level assistant is tasked with researching the pilot's posts to online forums to determine a pattern of behavior, and they easily find more than a dozen admitted willful violations of FAR's, and one specific to illegal right hand operations, possibly even involving one made to this thread.

I would never want to be in a hearing where my license was at risk and have a list of admitted violations in the past read off, one at a time.

Farfetched? Well, keeping things vague I do know of what is for now a civil suit where the accident pilot's online postings are being scrutinized for violations, mindset and hazardous attitudes. If and when there's an FAA enforcement action, there will already be a long list of posts to bring forth at any hearing.

What you post online is out there in public, and I, for one, consider that every time before I hit "Submit".


The "preachy" part:

What is it about pilots that they just have a need to "think different"?

If the FAA would like patterns generally flown to the left, why not just go with the flow, and, I don't know...generally fly patterns to the left?

But on and on we seem to seek out technicalities and loopholes - the AIM is only advisory, straight-ins are not illegal nor specifically proscribed, if I fly my right hand pattern at certain angles I can claim its really a straight-in - that sort of thing.

If there was a compelling reason, safety or otherwise, to "think outside the box" on this, I would be more likely to consider the arguments. As it is, I avoid straight-ins and fly standard patterns - no good case has been made why I should even consider doing otherwise.

I would also make the case that, in general, Part 121 operations are so statistically safer than Part 91 because Part 121 pilots pretty much have to follow procedures and regs - those that don't tend to not remain employed in that capacity.

But That's Just Me™, and clearly there's something in the pilot mindset that feels a need to "think different".

Carry on.

 

[Geico266]

The traffic patterns are advisory in nature, not law. I comply with them unless there is a reason where a devition is more appropriate. I said I "occasionally" announce my intentions and fly a right hand pattern. Certainly, not all the time or if there is traffic.

As for posting something here that is not normally done? It is ludicrous to think the FAA would launch an investigation and enforcement action based on a right hand turn in a left hand traffic pattern when I was avoiding flying over houses, at night, with 45 MPH winds at the surface. Bring it on.

I can dream up unlikely scenarios all day long too, about as helpful as this thread...so far.

 

[N801BH]

The traffic patterns are advisory in nature, not law. I comply with them unless there is a reason where a devition is more appropriate. I said I "occasionally" announce my intentions and fly a right hand pattern. Certainly, not all the time or if there is traffic.

As for posting something here that is not normally done? It is ludicrous to think the FAA would launch an investigation and enforcement action based on a right hand turn in a left hand traffic pattern when I was avoiding flying over houses, at night, with 45 MPH winds at the surface. Bring it on.

I can dream up unlikely scenarios all day long too, about as helpful as this thread...so far.

Yup.....

 

[redtail]

You better "Turn your transponder off" before making those right turns. Homeland Security will be along shortly, asking that "little gas monkey twit" for your N-number

 

[poadeleted20]

FWIW, I believe that the FAA considers an airplane within +/-30 degrees of the runway heading to be on final so you aren't in violation if you need to make a 20° right "correction" to line up with the runway when the traffic pattern is left.

It wasn't the FAA, it was the NTSB. From the Boardman case cited above:

There, we stated that "straight-in approaches were

acceptable if the approach did not interfere with aircraft​

executing a normal left-hand pattern and if the straight-in​

approach did not deviate more than 30 degrees from the center of the runway as measured from the threshold of the runway."​

...referencing Administrator v. Dibble, 5 NTSB 352 (1985) (which isn't on their public website). And before anyone gets excited about that "did not interfere with aircraft executing a normal left-hand pattern" business, they made clear in other, later cases that they were not at all saying that traffic in the pattern has right-of-way over traffic on a straight-in, only that the straight-in couldn't cut across the traffic pattern.

 

[poadeleted20]

The traffic patterns are advisory in nature, not law. I comply with them unless there is a reason where a devition is more appropriate. I said I "occasionally" announce my intentions and fly a right hand pattern. Certainly, not all the time or if there is traffic.

14 CFR 91.126(b) is not 'advisory in nature" -- it is in fact "law". If you are "approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower," and you aren't flying a straight-in, absent an emergency, the law gives you no choice about which direction to turn when in the traffic pattern area of that airport.

That is the law. What you do with it is up to you at your own risk of various potential consequences for disobedience, but to say or write that it is merely "advisory in nature" is simply false, ignores legal fact, and misleads anyone who reads/hears you.

 

[FastEddieB]

The traffic patterns are advisory in nature, not law. I comply with them unless there is a reason where a devition is more appropriate.

Here's the "law" part, again:

91.126

(b) Direction of turns. When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace—
(1) Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns of that airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right...

If I'm interpreting that correctly, flying right turns, other than under emergency authority, or indicated right traffic, is a violation of the law.

How is it not?

And I never meant to imply that an online post would initiate an enforcement action. Only that it might be used in one.

 

[Blackhawk]

It IS law and if one thinks the FAA won't come after you for a right hand pattern (unless a publication calls for one) you are sadly mistaken. Trust me, I know from personal experience and sick passengers are not enough justification. You are free to test it yourself but be ready to shell out some money for lawyers if you do. Oh, BTW, AOPA legal has a limit and FAA lawyers know about how many hours that limit is.

 

[N801BH]

Here's the "law" part, again:

91.126

(b) Direction of turns. When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace—
(1) Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns of that airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right...

If I'm interpreting that correctly, flying right turns, other than under emergency authority, or indicated right traffic, is a violation of the law.

How is it not?

And I never meant to imply that an online post would initiate an enforcement action. Only that it might be used in one.

Hmmm.

My Airport is in class G airspace... There is NO tower and during the qualification process with the FAA for certification I was asked my preferred traffic pattern. At no time was I instructed to install " approved light signals " or "visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right".. Also funny is there is no direction from the FAA for pilots to reference a AFD for an airport to verify and /or confirm the FAA approved traffic pattern....

http://www.airnav.com/airport/2WY3

 

[charris911]

Hmmm.

My Airport is in class G airspace... There is NO tower and during the qualification process with the FAA for certification I was asked my preferred traffic pattern. At no time was I instructed to install " approved light signals " or "visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right".. Also funny is there is no direction from the FAA for pilots to reference a AFD for an airport to verify and /or confirm the FAA approved traffic pattern....

http://www.airnav.com/airport/2WY3

Maybe in the "permission required prior to landing", the FAA expects you to inform the incoming PIC.

 

[FastEddieB]

1) Not sure of your point, but in lieu of any information or marking to the contrary, left hand traffic can be assumed, correct?

2) As far as an online post leading to an enforcement action, I believe that a YouTube video of a Cirrus doing aerobatics in NV led to an enforcement action against the pilot.

 

[Jeanie]

" Also funny is there is no direction from the FAA for pilots to reference a AFD for an airport to verify and /or confirm the FAA approved traffic pattern...."

Actually, there is. 91.103

 

[N801BH]

" Also funny is there is no direction from the FAA for pilots to reference a AFD for an airport to verify and /or confirm the FAA approved traffic pattern...."

Actually, there is. 91.103

I trust ya.... Funny they didn't include it in 91.126...

 

[Witmo]

I trust ya.... Funny they didn't include it in 91.126...

91.103 is kindof a catchall in that you're supposed to make yourself familiar with all information concerning a flight. It doesn't specifically mention much other than checking runway lengths and T/O and landing distance.

 

[poadeleted20]

Hmmm.

My Airport is in class G airspace... There is NO tower and during the qualification process with the FAA for certification I was asked my preferred traffic pattern. At no time was I instructed to install " approved light signals " or "visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right".. Also funny is there is no direction from the FAA for pilots to reference a AFD for an airport to verify and /or confirm the FAA approved traffic pattern....

http://www.airnav.com/airport/2WY3

Absent those signals/markings, left turns are required by law. So what's your question? Or are you trying to answer a question with your story?

 

[somorris]

The left turn requirement is pretty plain to me. I don't understand the basis for those arguing otherwise. Keep in mind a lot of student pilots read the posts on this forum.

 

[graumann]

Exactly right. As a fifty-two hour Sport Pilot student, I find it distressing that now I have to also watch out for the sky 'owners.' I was hoping those guys only existed on the golf course.
Keith

 

[dtuuri]

It's defined in case law, not regulations. It's essentially about 2-3 miles from the airport depending on the size of the aircraft. See Administrator v. Boardman and the cases cited therein.

I don't agree with your conclusion. The original judge opined that 5 or 6 miles would be acceptable, but the Board pulled up short of that assessment in footnote #6 as an example of not being in agreement with all of the judge's "findings". I wouldn't announce being on a base leg opposite the legal flow around the airport. Instead, I'd give my position in terms of bearing and distance from the airport, maybe adding "For a possible straight-in for runway X." And I wouldn't turn final less than 5 miles out either, lest I find myself in front of the same Law Judge. Who knows, since the type of aircraft capable of using the airport needs to be considered (see Boardman), even that distance might be too short in some judge's opinion.

dtuuri

 

[FastEddieB]

Instead, I'd give my position in terms of bearing and distance from the airport, maybe adding "For a possible straight-in for runway X." And I wouldn't turn final less than 5 miles out either, lest I find myself in front of the same Law Judge.

Again...

...can you clearly articulate the need for the above?

Why not just "go with the flow"?

 

[Geico266]

Again...

...can you clearly articulate the need for the above?

Why not just "go with the flow"?

Weather, low on fuel, high winds, mechanical problems, illness, incapacitated passenger or pilot, time of day, declared emergency.

Like I said, I "occasionally" have used a right base in a left hand pattern airport, (twice that I can remember in 3200 hours) but usually 5 or more miles out. I'm just calling out my position and intentions. Maybe from now on I'll just announce position and do a straight in final.

 

[Witmo]

Absent those signals/markings, left turns are required by law. So what's your question? Or are you trying to answer a question with your story?

My airfield lacks any visual markings but right traffic to 17 is depicted on the sectional and in the AFD. What would the law say in this case?

 

[Blackhawk]

Weather, low on fuel, high winds, mechanical problems, illness, incapacitated passenger or pilot, time of day, declared emergency.

Like I said, I "occasionally" have used a right base in a left hand pattern airport, (twice that I can remember in 3200 hours) but usually 5 or more miles out. I'm just calling out my position and intentions. Maybe from now on I'll just announce position and do a straight in final.

Again, I'd be very careful about just changing it based upon the time of day or even a sick passenger. Unless it is an emergency, and yes the FAA wants you to declare at a non-towered airport even with no one around even if it is a PAN PAN PAN, they will hit you with a violation. I know this from personal experience.

Finally I want to add that one needs to check the AF/D and ensure the pattern is not non-standard. I taught at an airport that was north traffic only- the south side contained a drop zone and an aerobatic box. In addition, the frequency had been changed years earlier to 122.725. Several times we had aircraft fly the wrong pattern during active parachute operations or when the aerobatic box was being used while transmitting on 122.8.