How to enter the traffic pattern at a nontowered airport

The FAA recommends standard traffic pattern flows at nontowered airports in an effort to maintain order and a safe environment for aircraft arrivals and departures. You'll start by learning the basics of the crosswind, downwind, base and final legs, for the times you plan to stay "in the traffic pattern" when practicing multiple takeoffs and landings. You'll also learn early on how to enter back into the pattern after spending some time practicing maneuvers at a higher altitude away from the airport.

Here we'll illustrate several methods to accomplish this, depending on the direction from which you're approaching the airport, in an effort to get established on the downwind leg at the published traffic pattern altitude.

[randygardner]

This will be super helpful in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Thank you!

[azcharlie]

Good luck using the recommended entry from the upwind side of airports in the Tucson - Phoenix corridor! The upwind side of several airports, ie: KAVQ, Coolidge (P08), Eloy (E60) and KCGZ all have parachute jumping on the upwind side. I recommend doing a wide crosswind passage at pattern altitude instead. Then turn back toward the airport on a 45 for the downwind leg. That way you can observe traffic in the pattern and avoid the jump areas. This is what happens when you have desk pilots, or group think tanks, dictating regulations. Make yourself as familiar as possible with the intended destination airport. Look for the "parachute" on sectional charts and avoid those areas.

[dwayneneufeld]

I was taught years ago entering upwind was an acceptable method of entering a traffic pattern. For example, coming from the north to an active busy south runway so straight-in would not be proper. Standard left pattern, entering left upwind would be at pattern altitude to the right of the runway southbound, then left crosswind, downwind, base...
I'd like to hear why flying over a busy airport and descending a couple miles out is safer than an upwind entry?
Using the upwind method, we are entering at pattern alt, not descending on anyone. There should be no traffic upwind to the right of centerline, it seems easier to spot traffic and join traffic in the crosswind.
Thoughts? I've never heard a complaint. Instructors shrug their shoulders when asked about this method.

[aviatortrucker]

The alternate method is dangerous since you are turning right into oncoming traffic. If someone had a larger pattern and longer crosswind then you would turn right into them. The safest way is 45 degree entry regardless of downwind side. Just cross the field at a 45 and enter downwind at altitude. You then can be seen from traffic turning crosswind to downwind. You can also see all legs clearly.

[pcar]

My goal is to get on the ground as soon as possible using the shortest acceptable pattern. Three runways and much NORDO traffic. You can't get hit if you are on the ground. Worst hazard are pilots used to flying out of towered airports. They tend to fly huge patterns and don't look out the window. This video does not prepare one to fly into nontowered airports.

[rawsonyost]

I'm not sure if there's any US airports left that use the unicom function for traffic avoidance, just call CTAF and let them know your plan and then communicate from there. Most people at the FBO aren't pilots and won't know anything about the traffic pattern. As an instructor I've seen this occasionally from older pilots or pilots from different countries but it is not a thing in the Central US to the best of my knowledge

[mvaldman]

This is all Nice and Dandy, but makes no sense if the pilots don't actually look outside nor pay attention to radio calls from others...

[picopilot]

the video says to overfly at mid-field and continue about two miles past before turning for the 45° entry

it also mentions monitoring and making a call at about 10 miles out

at what distance is the call made when entering the 45 if you are not crossing mid-field?

safety dictates that a 45° entry increases visibility and provides time to respond if there is a need to avoid traffic

is 2 miles out too far to make the call when entering the 45 or should you be closer?

[DougBinderCozy]

Don't select both tanks in a low wing aircraft. If one tank is empty you will suck air.

[ndbar]

Half of the pilots at our airport fly the downwind 2 miles away from the runway. The rest fly 1/2 mile out.

[paulrichardson]

Don’t know your rules, but here you don’t do a right hand turn into a left hand circuit, or vice versa, irrespective of height above pattern…if it’s unavoidable you head back out over 3 nm and turn back in on a correct circuit direction