Normal Pattern
Purpose and Objective
A traffic pattern promotes safety by establishing a common track to help pilots determine their landing order. A traffic pattern is also useful to control the flow of traffic, especially at airports without control towers.
The direction of a traffic pattern is determined by the wind direction. Helicopters generally want to avoid fixed-wing traffic, so if fixed-wings are flying left traffic patterns then helicopters will fly right traffic patterns. This is the standard, however different airports can have different traffic pattern rules, so check this before you fly to a new airport.
Common Errors
- Cutting the corner on turns.
- Extending the downwind not enough and ending up with too little space for the approach.
- Not flying parallel to the runway in the downwind by aligning with references that are not parallel to the runway.
Troutdale (KTTD)
At Troutdale Airport, Hillsboro Heli Academy has a written agreement with the control tower stating that we can utilize three extra patterns called Alpha-, Bravo- and Charlie-pattern. These patterns use the Alpha and Bravo taxiways, as well as the north helipad for the Charlie-pattern.
