Chair flying / Traffic Pattern
Traffic Pattern
Fly a standard rectangular pattern: configure and slow on each leg, hit altitude and airspeed targets, and set up a stabilized approach — using power for altitude and pitch for airspeed.
Downwind
- Level at pattern altitude (typically 1,000 ft AGL), parallel the runway
- Abeam the numbers: reduce power, flaps 10°, 80 kt“CGUMPS complete”Power for altitude, pitch for airspeed: set the power that gives the descent you want, then trim to the target speed and let the airplane fly it.
Base
- Turn base about 45° past the threshold — flaps 25°, 75 kt“Descending, 750 ft”
- Adjust the base turn timing and descent for wind and spacing
Final
- Roll out on final — landing flaps 40°, 66–70 kt“Aligned, on altitude, on airspeed”The three A's on final: Align with the centerline · Altitude on the glidepath · Airspeed on target.
- Go around if not stabilized by 500 ft AGL
ACS tolerances
- Pattern altitude ±100 ft
- Airspeed targets ±10 kt
- Stabilized by 500 ft AGL
Common errors
- Drifting off a rectangular ground track in wind
- Overshooting the final turn from a fast or late base
- Arriving high and fast, forcing a rushed approach