Traffic Pattern and Communication

Groups B and D – First Year Beginning

Part I. Traffic PatternPATH To Aviation Handbook pages 45-47

***The following traffic pattern walk-through corresponds with most Cessna 172 types only.***

Essential Questions

• What is a traffic pattern?

• Why do we use a traffic pattern?

• How many legs are there and what are their names?

Applying Math SkillsThink: Rectangle and Heading

runway

1. four right angles (90°)

2. lines cut right angles into two 45° angles each

3. lines at opposite end of right angle point at ends of a runway

4. Can a heading indicator be associated with this?

The Traffic Pattern

92

7

downwind

base crosswind

final upwindN

S

EW

v

v

v

v

v

wind

checkpoints

(approach)

Traffic Pattern: Upwind Leg

* climbout - put nose on horizon to establish Vy

1. begin turn to crosswind approx. 700 ft. AGL

5. verify distance between downwind

and runway by looking at wing strut

Traffic Pattern: Downwind Leg

3. abeam (adjacent to) #s: power ≈ 1700, pitch ≈ -500 fpm, flaps ≈ 10, airspeed ≈ 85 KIAS

2. level off at pattern altitude - 1,000 ft. AGL - and power down to cruise - 2300 RPM

Traffic Pattern: Base Leg

44. flaps 20, airspeed ≈ 75 KIAS

* use best judgment to begin turn to final

Traffic Pattern: Final (Approach) Leg

5 6

5. full flaps, airspeed ≈ 65 KIAS6. idle power and flare once crossing or crossed

threshold* on approach - use power for altitude and pitch for airspeed to adjust glide slope, VASI also helpful

Runway VASI System

• white over white, no end in sight• red over white, you’re alright• red over red, you’re dead

Straight-In Approach

9• if close to lined up with desired runway,

ATC will often assign “straight-in” approach

• simply fly towards runway - line up as you approach

Essential Questions

• What is a traffic pattern?

• Why do we use a traffic pattern?

• How many legs are there and what are their names?

Part II. CommunicationPATH To Aviation Handbook pages 16-17

Essential Questions

• What is the purpose of effectively communicating with ATC?

• What special language do aviators use while communicating?

• What are the four main parts of a transmission?

Phonetic Alphabet

• phonetic alphabet - used so that single letters and numbers can be clearly differentiated between one another over radio

• each letter assigned a word

• few numbers assigned words as well

• memorized by pilots and ATC

• see PATH Handbook page 16

Examples of Airport Radio Transmissions

JFK Tower Recording

The Four W’s

• main parts to every transmission:– 1. Who you’re addressing (ex. P’tree Ground)– 2. Who you are (ex. Cessna 78253)– 3. Where you are (ex. Epps ramp)– 4. What you want (ex. takeoff VFR to north)

• doesn’t include:– 1. instructions given by ATC– 2. readbacks given to ATC after instructions

have been given

Sections of Transmission

• Who you’re addressing– ATC needs to know who you’re addressing

• Who you are– ATC needs to know who is talking to them

• Where you are– ATC gives instructions based on location

• What you want– ATC gives instructions also based on request

• ATC Instructions– Any instructions given to a pilot by ATC (ex. taxi, takeoff, etc.)

• Readback– Pilots must read back any and all ATC instructions given to

them so that ATC knows you understand the instructions

Comms Example #1 - Taxi Clearance

• Who - P’tree Ground• You - Cessna 78253• Where - Epps ramp• Want - takeoff VFR to the north

you: “Peachtree Ground, Cessna 78253 is on the Epps ramp, VFR to the north with information.”ATC: “78253, Peachtree Ground, taxi to runway 2L via taxiways bravo and alpha, advise when run-up complete.”you: “2L via bravo alpha, will advise, 78253.”

How do these transmissions work?? Let’s take a look.

Comms Example #1 - Taxi Clearance

• A Closer Look:you: “Peachtree Ground, Cessna 78253 is on the Epps ramp, VFR to the north with information.”ATC: “78253, Peachtree Ground, taxi to runway 2L via taxiways bravo and alpha, advise when run-up complete.”you: “2L via bravo alpha, will advise, 78253.”

Part I - “Peachtree Ground, Cessna 78253 is on the Epps ramp, VFR to the north with information.”Talking to Peachtree Ground, you are 78253, you’re on the Epps ramp, and you want to takeoff to the north for a VFR flight

Part II - “78253, Peachtree Ground, taxi to runway 2L via taxiways bravo and alpha, advise when run-up complete.”Talking to 78253, they are Peachtree Ground, they give you instructions to taxi

Part III - “2L via bravo alpha, will advise, 78253.”Pilot reads back the taxi instructions

Comms Example #2 - Landing Clearance (traffic pattern!!)

• Who - P’tree Tower

• You - Cessna 5089G

• Where - 8 miles east of airport

• Want - inbound to land

You: “Peachtree Tower, 5089G is 8 miles east of the airport, inbound to land with information.”

ATC: “5089G, Peachtree Tower, enter left downwind for runway 20L.”

You: “Left downwind runway 20L, 5089G.”

*elapsed time*

ATC: “5089G, cleared to land, runway 20L.”

You: “Cleared to land, runway 20L, 5089G.”

who addressing who you are your location

what you want ATC instructions

readback

Things to Remember:

• ATC uses same “4 W” rule

• readback only pertinent information

• ATC may shorten tail # to last 3 characters (i.e. 253, 89G, etc.)

• readback exactly as instructions are given

• ATC IS THERE TO HELP YOU!!! Don’t be scared like Morgan Freeman.

Quiz Time!!!

• What are the traffic pattern legs in order?

upwind, crosswind, downwind, base, final

Quiz Time!!!

• What do you do as soon as you are abeam the numbers?

powerpitchflaps

Quiz Time!!!

• What is the traffic pattern altitude?

1,000 AGL

Quiz Time!!!

• What are the 4 W’s?

who you’re addressingwho you arewhere you arewhat you want

Quiz Time!!!

• Read back these ATC instructions:– “78253, enter left downwind for runway 2L,

cleared to land number 3 behind the Mooney and the Piper. Advise when you have the traffic in sight. Also, be advised there are birds and operating cranes in the vicinity. Winds are 360 at 7.”

“Enter left downwind runway 2L, cleared to land number 3. Will advise when traffic is in sight, 78253.”

Quiz Time!!!

• Given the following taxi instructions, ask Peachtree ATC for a taxi clearance.– Peachtree ground– Piper 81771– Signature ramp– lap in the pattern

“Peachtree Ground, Piper 81771 is on the Signature ramp, we’d like to take a lap in the pattern.”

Questions?

• You can always email any questions you have to:

• logan@centennialaviationclub.com