Steven Airspace

Flight Simulator Airspace Information

Circuit pattern flight usually used to perform landing excercises and to get more deepen your flight orientation. If you play music, it can be called a twelve-bar blues LOL. Circuit Pattern made with Visual Flight Rules (VFR). And for the VFR, ATC does not provide vector (heading), because the flight based on visual reference (visual reference). There are two types of circuit pattern, the Left Hand and Right Hand Pattern. Left hand pattern, if after airborne we turned left to join left downwind. As for right hand pattern, after airborne turn to the right to join right downwind. Here is the caption from the legs of the circuit pattern flight:

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The caption above shows that the airplane is gonna make ‘Left traffic pattern’, means after airborne the plane is gonna turn left to join the left downwind runway 23. Here is the details:

• ‘A’ when plane’s airborne.
• ‘B’ The plane is turning to the ‘Crosswind leg’
• ‘C’ The plane is established on ‘Left downwind’ runway 23
• ‘D’ is the area where the plane is joining ‘Base leg’ runway 23
• ‘E’ The plane is ‘On Final’ runway 23
• If the airplane is coming from the south of the airfield, airplane can enter the left downwind runway 23 at 45 degree to the downwind leg (see: light blue box).
• If the airplane comes from the same heading with runway. airplane can join the ‘Upwind’ runway 23. Until at least 1 minute passing THE EDGE of runway 23 the airplane can turn to ‘Crosswind leg’ to join ‘Left downwind’ runway 23 (Purple box).

The same procedure if you want to make ‘Right traffic pattern’

Circuit Flight Radio Telephony for uncontrolled airfield And Circuit Pattern Airplane Procedure

I assumed that you already know how to make communication with active ATC. So here is  the Radio announcement procedure if you’re in the uncontrolled airfield. Just for example we take Polonia – Medan as the uncontrolled airfield.

1. You scan the pattern for traffic and spot the airfield
   on downwind. It looks like there’ll be plenty of
   room, so to begin the takeoff you:
   • Announce “Polonia traffic, Skyhawk Four Zulu
   Sierra departing Runway Two-Three, closed
   traffic, Polonia.”
   • Line up. Turn the landing and anticollision lights
   on. Taxi onto the runway, and without stopping,
   align the aircraft with the runway centerline and
   take off.
2. Departure Leg
   • Climb on the extended runway centerline beyond
   the departure end of the runway and to within 300
   feet of traffic pattern altitude. Polonia’s pattern
   altitude is 1,500 feet msl, so continue the departure
   leg until the altimeter registers 1,000 feet.
   • At 1,000 feet, look to the left and right to be sure
   there is no traffic conflict and announce “Polonia
   traffic, Skyhawk Four Zulu Sierra turning
   crosswind Runway Two-Three, Polonia.”
3. Crosswind Leg
   • Climb to pattern altitude—1,500 feet msl in this
   case—level off, and reduce power to maintain a
   safe interval.
   • Continue on crosswind until approximately 1/2 mile
   from the extended runway centerline.
   • To help visualize this distance, use the
   runway itself. For example, if the runway is
   approximately one mile long (5,280 feet),
   use half its length as a guide for the turn to
   downwind.
   • As you approach the turn point, scan for traffic on
   downwind and announce “Polonia traffic,
   Skyhawk Four Zulu Sierra turning downwind
   Runway Two-Three, Polonia.”
4. Downwind Leg
   • Establish the downwind track and begin the beforelanding
   checklist. Perform most of the landing
   configuration tasks while on this leg.
   • Retractable-gear airplane pilots should confirm
   the gear is down and locked while passing
   midfield on downwind.
   • All pilots should be especially vigilant, scanning
   and listening for traffic entering the pattern on the
   downwind leg. This could occur anywhere on
   downwind.
   • Select a touchdown spot on the runway, and as you
   pass that spot, begin the descent for landing by:
   • Reducing power to maintain approach speed
   • Setting approach flaps
   • Continue on downwind and plan the turn to base so
   as to achieve a 1/2 to 3/4-mile final approach leg.
   • Suggestion—turn base when the aircraft is 45
   degrees to the approach end of the runway.
   • Approaching the turn point, scan for conflicting
   traffic and announce “Polonia traffic, Skyhawk
   Four Zulu Sierra turning base Runway Two-Three,
   Polonia.”
5. Base Leg
   • This leg is flown perpendicular to the runway
   centerline, but if there is any wind, the airplane will
   be crabbed toward the wind.
   • If dealing with a left crosswind on final, lead the
   turn to final approach.
   • Right crosswinds will delay the turn to final.
   • Be especially careful to scan and listen for
   traffic on base or final. Once turned toward the
   runway, it is difficult to see behind the aircraft.
   • Continue airplane configuration tasks.
   • Approaching the turn point, look out the right side
   to ensure the final approach path is clear, and then
   announce “Polonia traffic, Skyhawk Four Zulu
   Sierra turning final, Runway Two-Three, full stop,
   Polonia.”
6. Final Approach Leg
   • On final, verify airplane configuration and set
   landing flaps.
   • There is a tendency for pilots to “lock on” to the
   touchdown zone. It’s imperative to continue scanning
   and listening for traffic as we slide down final. Clear
   both sides of the final approach path.
   • Maintain alignment, flare, and wait for that soulsatisfying
   squeak that says you’ve made another
   great landing.

Congratulation, you’ve made your circuit filght.

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