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As discussed earlier, all patterns are left hand unless indicated otherwise. Sectional aeronautical charts list a right hand pattern along with the airport information as shown in Figure 10-6.  The segmented circle of Figure 10-5  and the airport shown in Figure 10-6  both clearly show the patterns for this airport. 

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A segmented circle in Figure 10-7 provides traffi c patterns so there is no air traffic over the lower right hand area, which could be a hazard or populated area. 

Inbound to an uncontrolled airport, the CTAF frequency should be monitored to listen for other aircraft in the pattern to find out what is the active runway being used by other air traffi c. [Figure 10-8] 

When approaching an airport for landing, the traffi c pattern should be entered at a 45° angle to the downwind leg, headed toward a point abeam of the midpoint of the runway to be used for landing as shown in Figures 10-1 and  10-7.  Arriving aircraft should be at the proper traffic pattern altitude before entering the pattern and should stay clear of the traffi c flow until established on the entry leg. Entries into traffi c patterns while descending create specifi c collision hazards and should always be avoided. During the WSC 45° entry into the pattern, the WSC aircraft must pass through the larger airplane pattern, so it is essential that alert see-and- avoid procedures plus additional radio communications be practiced during this transition. 

The entry leg should be of sufficient length to provide a clear view of the entire traffic pattern and to allow the pilot adequate time for planning the intended path in the pattern and the landing approach. 

The downwind leg is a course flown parallel to the landing runway but in a direction opposite to the intended landing direction. This leg for the slower WSC aircraft should be approximately ¼ to ½ mile out from the landing runway, and at the specifi ed traffic pattern altitude unless the airport specifi cally specifies a lower altitude for WSC aircraft. [Figure 10-9]  The faster airplanes would be ½ to 1 mile out from the landing runway. During this leg, the before landing check should be completed. Pattern altitude should be maintained until abeam the approach end of the landing runway. At this point, power should be reduced and a descent begun. The downwind leg continues past a point abeam the approach end of the runway to a point approximately 45° from the approach end of the runway, and a medium bank turn is made onto the base leg. 

The base leg is the transitional part of the traffi c pattern between the downwind leg and the final approach leg. Depending on the wind condition, it is established at a sufficient distance from the approach end of the landing runway to permit a gradual descent to the intended touchdown point. The ground track of the aircraft while on the base leg should be perpendicular to the extended centerline of the landing runway, although the longitudinal axis of the aircraft may not be aligned with the ground track when it is necessary to turn into the wind to counteract drift. While on the base leg and before turning onto the final approach, the pilot must ensure that there is no danger of colliding with another aircraft 

