Entering a Traffic Pattern

[stuarty1874]

Guys, I'm new to flight sim. I've got the basics pretty much sorted and taking off and landing is no real issue.

One of the problems I have is that I find it hard to understand the concept of entering a traffic pattern when approaching an airport.

I'm wading through my MS Flight Sim for Real World Training Manual and I'm practicing a flight to Boston.

I contact the Boston Tower and they tell me to enter the right traffic pattern. I think understand the concept of the traffic pattern and that I should enter it on the downwind leg at 45 degrees.

I'm just not sure how I should visualize the point at which I'm ready to enter the traffic pattern.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[stuarty1874]

Suppose I should read this first.


http://www.flightsim.com/fswiki/inde..._circuit%29%3F

[lnuss]

Suppose I should read this first.


http://www.flightsim.com/fswiki/inde..._circuit%29%3F

I'm glad you found that one -- you might look at this one, too.

One thing that may help a little is that in a pattern with right traffic, all turns are to the right, generally indicating that you see the airport on your right. By the same token, a left pattern is left turns. As you've seen in that wiki article, a traffic pattern is just a rectangle, making it fairly easy (with a little practice) to visualize where other traffic might be.

[BruceAir]

You can find much useful information, including excellent illustrations, in free publications available from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation:

• Operations at Nontowered Airports (pdf)
• Operations at Towered Airports (pdf)

You'll also find good information in the Learning Center (Help -> Learning Center) that's installed when you set up Flight Simulation. See especially the topic "Airport Traffic Patterns."

Finally, check Chapter 12, "Airport Operations," in the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. It's one of many training handbooks and other resources that you can download free from the Web.