Manned aircraft fly a standard path around the runway when they take off and land. A remote pilot needs to know its parts to stay clear of it.
Part 107, explained › Operations · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.
How does an airport traffic pattern work?
A traffic pattern is the standard path manned aircraft fly around a runway: departure, upwind leg, crosswind leg, downwind leg, base leg and final approach. Fixed-wing aircraft approaching to land circle the airport to the left unless the tower directs otherwise. A remote pilot should avoid the pattern and published approach corridors.
The AIM defines the legs: the downwind leg is parallel to the landing runway in the opposite direction of landing; the base leg is at right angles to the landing runway off its approach end; and final approach is along the extended runway centerline from the base leg to the runway. The crosswind leg is at right angles to the landing runway off its takeoff end. Its key to pattern operations says to enter in level flight abeam the midpoint of the runway at pattern altitude and to complete the turn to final at least 1/4 mile from the runway.
Altitude and entry: the PHAK says pattern altitudes for propeller-driven aircraft generally run from 600 feet to as high as 1,500 feet AGL, military turbojets sometimes up to 2,500 feet AGL, and that the altitude can be found in the Chart Supplement U.S. At a nontowered airport the preferred entry from the downwind side is a course 45 degrees to the downwind leg, joining at midfield.
For a drone, AC 107-2A explains that a small unmanned aircraft hovering 200 feet above a runway could make a manned aircraft on the downwind leg delay landing, which would be interference with a traffic pattern under 14 CFR 107.43. The rule itself is explained on our 14 CFR 107.41 to 107.43 page.
AIM 4-3-2, Airports with an Operating Control Tower
If not otherwise authorized or directed by the tower, pilots of fixed-wing aircraft approaching to land must circle the airport to the left.
AIM 4-3-2, Components of a Traffic Pattern
Downwind leg. A flight path parallel to the landing runway in the opposite direction of landing.
FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 14, Traffic Patterns
At most airports and military air bases, traffic pattern altitudes for propeller-driven aircraft generally extend from 600 feet to as high as 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL).
AC 107-2A, 5.10.1.2
In order to avoid interfering with operations in a traffic pattern, remote PICs should avoid operating in the traffic pattern or published approach corridors used by manned aircraft.
Unless the tower directs otherwise, the AIM says fixed-wing pilots approaching to land circle the airport to the left.
Pattern altitude is not one fixed number: for propeller-driven aircraft it generally runs from 600 to 1,500 feet AGL, and the Chart Supplement U.S. gives it for each airport.
AC 107-2A says remote pilots should avoid operating in the traffic pattern or published approach corridors used by manned aircraft.
A drone hovering 200 feet above a runway could still interfere with traffic pattern operations, even without an immediate conflict.
Quick quiz: 3 questions
Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions. Each answer shows its FAA source.
Question 1 of 3
Which is the correct traffic pattern departure procedure to use at a noncontrolled airport?
A Depart in any direction consistent with safety, after crossing the airport boundary.
B Comply with any FAA traffic pattern established for the airport.
C Make all turns to the left.
Show the answer
Answer: B. Comply with any FAA traffic pattern established for the airport.
(Prior to arriving at an airport, pilots gather information in the Charts Supplement, including traffic pattern orientation. Complying with those patterns is critical to the safety of the operation near and around airports.)
The recommended entry position to an airport traffic pattern is
A to enter 45° at the midpoint of the downwind leg at traffic pattern altitude.
B to cross directly over the airport at traffic pattern altitude and join the downwind leg.
C 45° to the base leg just below traffic pattern altitude.
Show the answer
Answer: A. to enter 45° at the midpoint of the downwind leg at traffic pattern altitude.
(Traffic patterns are always entered by manned aircraft from the downwind leg (parallel to the runway) and at a 45 degree angle, in the middle of the runway.)
Traffic patterns in effect at Lincoln Municipal are
Tap the figure to open it full size.
A to the right on Runway 14 and Runway 32; to the left on Runway 18 and Runway 35.
B to the right on Runways 14 – 32.
C to the left on Runway 14 and Runway 32; to the right on Runway 18 and Runway 35.
Show the answer
Answer: C. to the left on Runway 14 and Runway 32; to the right on Runway 18 and Runway 35.
(Traffic patterns are indicated in the Charts Supplement with either an indication for right traffic pattern (labeled as Rgt tfc) or as no indication for left pattern (because it is standard). In this scenario, Lincoln Municipal has 3 runways: 18-36, 14-32, 17-35. The patterns are as follows: RWY 18: Rgt tfc. RWY 36: Left traffic (No indication) RWY 14: Left traffic RWY 32: Left traffic RWY 17: Left traffic RWY 35: Rgt tfc.)
No. Left turns are the normal pattern, and the PHAK says traffic pattern indicators show the direction of turns when there is a variation from the normal left traffic pattern.
Practice this with the UAV Campus AI Flight Instructor
It quizzes you on questions like these, explains why each answer is right with the FAA page behind it, and retests the ones you miss. Free to start: 300 credits every month.
