VFR - Traffic patterns in US and Europe/UK

[Kin-Shing Dave Tchang]

Hi,

 

I've been reading up on the subject of traffic patterns around airfields and I've found there are some small differences between US and Europe. For example in the US it's general practice to enter the pattern at non-towered airfields at 45° angle at mid-field on the downwind leg. In Europe this is done at the start of the downwind leg instead of mid-field.

 

For the pattern altitude this is in the US for fixed-wing aircraft 1000 feet AGL and for rotor-wing aircraft 500 feet. I could only find on the internet that in Europe for fixed-wing aircraft the general standard pattern is also 1000 feet AGL. For rotor-wing aircraft I found no information if it was 500 feet AGL or 1000 feet AGL. Can anyone enlighten me on this? Thanks!

 

Kind regards,

[Martijn Rammeloo]

General advice: use charts. Don't trust on 'general rules' covering an entire continent. There are simply too many local influences.

 

Martijn

[Andreas Fuchs]

...and here on VATSIM (almost) nobody will shout at you for entering the downwind mid-field or at the beginning of the downwind-leg. As long as you state your intentions and make your position reports on 122.800 (now by voice!!), you'll be set.

[Kin-Shing Dave Tchang]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the replies. What about the pattern altitude, is there a difference for fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft? Not all airport charts provide this information.

 

Kind regards,

[Martijn Rammeloo]

[Mod - Happy Thoughts]uming the R/W aircraft is flying VFR, simply use the VFR circuit altitude that is stated on the chart.

 

Martijn