Airport Traffic Patterns Explained (PPL Ground Lesson 62)

[@aerofiles5044]

I passed my written yesterday with a 97%. Just wanted to say thanks for everything you do, the videos really do help.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Congratulations! Big step towards that PPL!

[@johnnyb33good21]

I just completed all 63 videos in your free PPL video playlist. I wanted to familiarize myself before I signed up for Sporty's online Ground School. Thank you for all of the time, effort, and attention you put into your free pilot training!

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome! Let me know how my course compares to Sporty’s.

[@motogirlz101]

This is a great video for student pilots. Flying patterns correctly is crucial to safe flight. Entering patterns is also very important. I sometimes will take a longer route to an airport that is nearby just to listen to what is going on in the traffic before I land.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks! That would’ve been good for me to mention as well. Great comment!

[@MrJangs20]

Just passed my written today. I wanted to genuinely thank you for your time and effort uploading videos that are wonderful put together and super easy to understand! I can’t thank you enough and hope to run into you one day to show my appreciation. I will definitely get some gear to show my support, you have know idea how much your videos have helped me through my PPL journey!

[@FreePilotTraining]

Congrats! You’re very welcome! If you see me out and about, be sure to say hi!

[@erosnemesis]

I was doing solo pattern work the other day for a few hours. Scared the crap out of me when I was down wind and some random plane showed up and made his first call on down wind. We need everyone to watch this video!

[@FreePilotTraining]

I’ve had very similar experiences. It’s one of the few things I get really mad about when flying

[@KevinSmithAviation]

Excellent job Josh. Probably the best video I had seen describing traffic patterns. I hope you and your family are doing well. Keep up the excellent work. Safe skies my friend 🇺🇸🛩️

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks Kevin!

[@andrewmaclean9810]

One thing that really helped me was thinking of PAPIs not as a glide slope indicator but as a power indicator. I know that's basically the same thing, but idk for me as a student pilot it really improved my landings removing that little buffer of "oh im a bit low i need to gain altitude, add power" vs just "add power"

[@trevorclayton6247]

Just wanted to say THANK YOU! Your free ground school really helped me as I took my gleim ground school course. I’m a visual learner and you really helped me. I took my written on Friday and passed!👍✈️

[@FreePilotTraining]

Awesome! Congratulations!

[@edcoronado]

This is by far the best video on traffic patterns I’ve seen. One thing I’ll add about not flying a wide pattern too far from the field is that at such low altitude you want to make sure you still have enough altitude to make it to the field. If you’re too far, you might not make it back.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thank you! And yes, that is an excellent point!

[@jakew9887]

Excellent presentation. Thanks. I think this is the most complete video on the subject that I have seen.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks Jake! I appreciate that. That’s what I was hoping to accomplish

[@pabloazorin]

Excellent video! Thanks for the detailed explanation, and for making it such a fun and engaging way to learn!

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks! I really appreciate that!

[@BushiestBesver]

Great video. Been using the Kore headset for over 20hrs now and they’re great. Not Bose but for the price they’re great and as you mentioned will be a good passenger/backup pair in the future.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thank you! I haven’t used them too much, but they seem great!

[@johnisley2782]

Hey Josh, just wanted to say thanks for the videos. I came across your channel after purchasing Sporty's and I can say without a doubt that your stuff is on par as far as info goes, actually covers some things they don't, and your are definitely more entertaining! Keep up the good work!

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thank you so much! I love getting comments like this!

[@PenguinBrix]

I am 14 years old and want to be a pilot, since I can’t fly at my age I’m trying to learn everything i can! This channel is awesome

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks!

[@richthompson3326]

These videos are so very helpful! I'm a student pilot with low time and information like this really helps me. One vet to another, thanks man!

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching

[@isaacjackson8537]

Josh is hilarious, but He is a dead serious and Great teacher, I'm about to enter Sportys online PPL course, I appreciate Josh's study material I'm Excited!!

[@FreePilotTraining]

😆 thanks! Enjoy the course! I’m hoping to launch my own premium course too in the next few months which uses my KZbin videos!

[@Tom_in_CA]

Thank you for this! 👍 I’m on flight training now, and this filled in some holes in my knowledge

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome!

[@AIAsks]

Thank you! Always wanted to get a course like this one where all the information needed was in one place, starting next month to get my comercial license, but wanted to freshen up on the ppl knowledge before that, thank you very much! We'll be on the lookout if you decide to make a Commercial Pilot Course one day!

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome!

[@G00013]

Pop quiz at 3:00 - I believe there’s an exception for airports with two official traffic patterns, i.e. where rotorcraft fly the opposite pattern, like at X59 (Valkaria near Melbourne, FL). At those airports it’s important for rotorcraft to say either right final or left final so fixed wing traffic can look out.

[@letshavefunexploring-bb6049]

Great illustrations, great scenario and clear explanation this a 10 out 10 video 👍

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks I appreciate that!

[@Amos-fn7ie]

Your voice is smoothing sir, very clearly explained

[@FreePilotTraining]

😆 why thank you

[@deanarndell4609]

Awesome Josh thanks for these lessons, top man! I finally did a " T.I.F. discovery flight last week with Airways Aviation Gold Coast Australia in a C172N with glass panel.. Your lessons definitely helped, we had 15-20kt crosswinds...very interesting... stoked to get the pedal to the metal....keen for more! Cheers! 🤙🛩️🌅🌴🦅😃

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome! That’s awesome! Enjoy the training!

[@CowboyGarage]

Good content, thanks for doing what you do. Airport size messing with your visuals is something I recently experienced. I started my training in a C150 at a 3000ft X 50ft class E airport and then I moved across the country and now I'm training in a C172 at a class D with a 10,165ft x 150ft runway. With over two miles of runway and the typical Wyoming winds I easily hit pattern altitude about 3/4 of the way down the runway. In the past I was still climbing when it was time to turn crosswind. I've also had some issues with base and final because the giant runway just looks like it's so much closer when compared to the little field I previously trained on. I'm enjoying the challenge though and always love learning.

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome!

[@packman579]

Just finished your series. I guess there's the taxing in strong winds but time to re-watch them again so I can pass the written test. Thank you! These videos are great!

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome! I’m working on that video now, and then I’d like to remake some of my older ones as well!

[@packman579]

@@FreePilotTraining Question for you, Would you recommend being a CFI out at Pueblo Colorado? Is that a good way to get the 1500 hours?

[@PICOTTSportsEnt]

Josh, thank you very much for another awesome flight instruction video! ✈️

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome!

[@dwighttaylor5107]

Just what I was looking for. So darn awesome thanks.

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome!

[@mikewood9173]

great teacher and a great vidio!

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks!

[@oleksp7095]

Video was very helpful, thank you!

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome

[@MithilanchalMadhubani]

Beautifully explained ❤❤❤

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks!

[@slipandskid]

This is great info! I'm struggling to mentally have the picture of traffic pattern for unknown airports while making an approach and it's messing up my diversions. Any suggestions or it'll be really helpful if you can shoot a video on this topic. Regardless, your channel is one of the best out there for student pilots.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks! I’m thinking about making another landing video soon. Maybe I can do it then. But basically that depends on whether you’re flying a highwing or a low wing. On a high wing, I like to put the runway 2/3 of the way up the strut. On a low wing, I put the wingtip on the runway. Hope this helps!

[@ShunguRocks]

Really enjoyed learning the terms and rules. 😂 I was one of those that answered Left Final 😂😂😂 but now I know.

[@FreePilotTraining]

😆 I thought that was fun lol

[@johnopalko5223]

Good job! I really enjoyed that.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks!

[@acasualviewer5861]

You mention yielding when turning into the downwind or yielding on base. How does one yield in a safe way? How do you avoid departing the pattern or getting too slow? What do when I'm in a collision course with another plane? (For example, a private jet is coming down on me on final)

[@FreePilotTraining]

If you’re entering downwind, and you’re using the alternate method, I would climb and change to the primary method. In either case, you can always make a couple 360 degree turns out of the pattern while you’re waiting for someone. If you’re yielding to someone on base you can either extend your downwind or make a 360 degree turn if no one is behind you.

[@acasualviewer5861]

@@FreePilotTraining Thanks.. I always worry I wouldn't be able to outclimb fast enough in something like a 152 there's always a lot of discussion of how to stay in the pattern, but what worries me more is how to survive it if things go wrong

[@eb1138]

Such great videos

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks!

[@springcliffstudio7139]

Hey Josh. I've completed 53 of your 61 PPL Ground School videos. Love it. Very well done. Question: Do you expect that studying those 61 videos should prepare me as well for the FAA written exam as any of the $300 online ground schools?

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks! Not to toot my own horn, but based on all the comments I’ve received, these will 100% prepare you for the written exam

[@springcliffstudio7139]

Outstanding, thank you. How would I then get a sign-off to sit for the exam?

[@tannasmithoutdoors]

Great video

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thank you!

[@mikecoffee100]

I say circuits and Track up so there thank you for these lessons

[@AirJoe]

11:41 that would be an interesting radio call to make 😂

[@FreePilotTraining]

Lol

[@stevenreardon9940]

I apologize in advance for this.Probably being of the wrong location with that said.After watching your should I buy or should I not buy an airplane and the seven things to know before buying a plane. You gave some prices on things and costs that an airplane owner will have to deal with. The question is are those prices equal for a 150 VS 172. Where is it more feasible to get the cheaper airplane? Put the avonics in it that you need and worry about selling it after you've got all of your flight time accumulated. Appreciate your videos in your channel. You do a great job on explaining aeronautical situations and material.

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome! The 150 is certainly a cheaper airplane, and the maintenance costs are usually a little cheaper as well, although not much.

[@_miguel_tenorio]

Hello, how do I calculate the fuel consumption for the descent? Do you have a video for that? Thanks

[@FreePilotTraining]

Not really. The POH is where you want to look for that info. If you have a 1000 fpm descent rate, and you’re at 10,000 feet. It will take you 10 minutes to descend. If your plane burns 8 gph, then you burned 1/6 of 8 gallons. That’d be roughly 1.33 gallons

[@_miguel_tenorio]

@@FreePilotTraining thank you

[@JoshuaTootell]

While you are using less fuel during the descent, just use your cruise fuel burn. It'll be a little high, but on the safer side

[@theshadowsymphony]

Is the video for taxiing in strong winds ready?

[@FreePilotTraining]

I’m working on it as we speak. It might be a couple more weeks

[@KandGadventures]

Are you going to create your own online ground school? I know from my inquiry from other online schools that they just give their endorsement based on the practice test from Sportys site. They asked me to screenshot a passed grade and they send the endorsement. I haven't started any ground schools yet, but I learned a lot from your videos.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Yes I am! I’m working on it now and should be done in a couple months

[@shanegabriel9518]

What editing/animation software do you use? It looks great

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks! It’s called Doodly

[@positivrteaviation5044]

What do you think about the right crosswind departure in left traffic?

[@FreePilotTraining]

I think it’s downright dangerous. Especially if the winds are light and variable and both patterns are on the same side of the runway. Someone exiting on a right crosswind could very easily be turning into me if I’m on left base for the opposite runway

[@positivrteaviation5044]

@@FreePilotTraining So if we had an airport with only runway 36 which is left traffic and we wanted to depart to the east, what is the appropriate plan for that? (Without straight out)

[@Doubletextech]

Hey Josh Im moving to Arkansas close to the Little Rock area and I was wondering do you recommend any schools. I work through out the week and I mostly only have the weekends off.

[@FreePilotTraining]

If you’re near Clarksville/Russelville, you should talk to Seth Lake from VSL aviation. For the North Little Rock area, I recommend North Little Rock Air

[@antoniog9814]

Excellent video, as usual. Are you no longer flying the C130?

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks! I’m not flying for the military at the moment. They’ve got me on a desk right now. Hopefully I’ll be back at it soon

[@50g48]

Hi!! I just wanted to ask if I should spend anytime with the PHAK while I watch your videos ? Or should I watch your videos first and then read the PHAK to be prepared for ground school?

[@FreePilotTraining]

Yes! The PHAK should be read during the ground training, and the Airplane Flying Handbook should be read while training in the aircraft

[@50g48]

@@FreePilotTraining Was wondering if finishing your videos first and then reading PHAK after helps me understand best ?

[@vicgsxr750]

Should Helicopters follow the left hand traffic pattern, or should they follow the right hand patterns when not listed. I do tend to see pattern attitudes for helicopters, just not the pattern direction.

[@FreePilotTraining]

I don’t know much about helicopters, but I think their pattern is at 700’ agl

[@southerncrosshempoil]

I'm confident that the student pilots, once they've advanced in their careers, will return to express their gratitude to Josh-perhaps even with some financial support. I certainly plan to do so

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thank you so much!

[@laszlovass7326]

Josh, are you taking on students? If so, how do you want them to contact you?

[@FreePilotTraining]

Not currently, possibly in the near future. I live in Alaska, so if you’re in the area, you could reach out to me on Facebook or instagram. I’m considering an investment in a training aircraft.

[@laszlovass7326]

That would be great. Your influence on my son (16) over the past year is appreciated. Hopefully you will be ready to train in person soon.

[@Ifly1976]

If I had a dollar for every time someone declared they were “tear dropping” onto the 45 to enter the downwind, only to tear drop directly onto the downwind, I’d be rich. It’s especially dangerous when you’re turning crosswind to downwind in a high wing. You have a fool that’s descending and usually in a steep turn, after crossing midfield. They don’t fly far enough past the centerline and instead of entering the 45, they turn right onto the downwind. It happens WAY too much and people die. Blancolirio recently did a video on a recent fatal where this happened. If you’re taking off and you hear someone declaring a tear drop entry, DONT BELIEVE THEM.

[@your01Aj]

Damn, I was aboutta order the headset, unfortunately they don't ship to Europe

[@FreePilotTraining]

Sorry about that. Try Amazon. They sell some there

[@RGWv]

From the opposite side of the runway, enter on the cross-wind. And here in the US there is no such thing as a PPL. RSVP

[@mikecoffee100]

Now if only people could get traffic patterns in rush hour traffic with cars correct and. oh one time a bunch of us were doing circuits and eventually they were getting wider and wider so the controller yelled at us heyyy close it up we are not doing cross country flights here.

[@FreePilotTraining]

😆 very true

[@danieljones8587]

Avoid airport patterns like your life depended on it because it does. There are many safer alternatives for takeoffs and landings.

[@trevorclayton6247]

Oh yeah I forgot to say…….. baby rain, baby rain.😂👌

[@FreePilotTraining]

😂 love it!

[@chad480906]

I kind of want to say left final on purpose now...just once. Haha

[@FreePilotTraining]

😆

[@larryblanco8056]

LOL... love it "Even if this guys is an IDIOT, and making his pattern too big...."

[@FreePilotTraining]

@@larryblanco8056 lol, thought that was appropriate

[@charlescrane1631]

Hello. My name is Charles. I am in Muskogee and wondering if you’d be interested in me hiring you for a lesson.

[@charlescrane1631]

I have a 182 so I could come to you. Lol

[@charlescrane1631]

I sent my email but guess KZbin took it off. I’m not sure how to get in contact with you. Thank you so so much!

[@FreePilotTraining]

Wish I could help you. I live in Alaska now.

[@FreePilotTraining]

No problem. I got your email. I’ll try to read it tomorrow

[@epsilon9104]

im sorry for cutting you off from your base leg while i was going in for a straight landing the other day

[@FreePilotTraining]

😆

[@lowey49er]

I find it very hard to understand what you are saying when noisy racket is drowning out your voice

[@FreePilotTraining]

Sorry about that. I’m not sure where all the feedback came from

[@ehudgavron9086]

Hey Josh. I know us KZbin viewers aggravate you youtube teachers ("influencers") because we assume we know more than you do. So let me start wish saying that I don't. I want to ask a legitimate question -- or one I think is legitimate -- that i've had for like ten years now. Seriously. Please take it as such. I'm a pilot and i have a question and I'm raising my hand. So it appears to me that the ultimate jobs in aviation are piloting Part 121 pax or freight. They come in on an IFR plan and for practical purposes there is no pattern. They fly how ATC (or ILS or RNAV etc) tells them to. I'm counting the biggies and the regionals in this. Then there's the Part 135 folks. Been there. Most of the time IFR or VFR we are given vectors to final, so no pattern. If we're doing an untowered THEN we'll do the pattern stuff... but normally for 135 stuff the pax expect their limo or a town car or a rental or something so it's not an untowered airport. Then for Part 91 stuff, that's not revenue. Going to the racetrack. Taking friends over their houses to wave. Oh yeah, should have mentioned... I'm a commercial helicopter pilot, so 500-1000ft AGL, not that clouds in the sky stuff. None of that is pattern work although the return to station may be. BUT having said all that as STUDENTS there's SO MUCH EMPHASIS on pattern work, and pattern work is exacting, interactive, and dangerous. I wonder if there isn't a better way to get STUDENTS to get the experience without FORCING THEM into this pattern stuff. So distilling my question it goes something like this, and it's asking for your opinion. - Do we overemphasize the value in pattern flying - If we stopped having students spend hours flying in a squared circle and let them aviate, navigate, and communicate, would we not get better pilots? - Our "system" where the newbie gets to be a CFI just long enough to crown 1-2 more CFIs and then goes to get "the real job"... does that not make the problem worse... so we keep training people to do stupid shit why will rarely do in real life INSTEAD of life-saving skills, including piloting the aircraft, weather planning, sectional reading, etc. I ask because... well... I've watched your videos and you show that you're willing to think outside the box. So I know you won't say "pattern work is important.... to... um... er... understand the pattern." Yeah, right there with you. But you might say "you know, in real flying, outside of training, we do patterns 5 minutes a day but we do other stuff 7 hours 55minutes." And should we train for the simple stuff that has real risks... or for the complex stuff we may encounter where a call on CTAF won't save us. Sorry to be long. Best wishes, and keep the AGL above zero, brother!

[@FreePilotTraining]

I have to say, I’ve never really considered this too much. I like what you’re saying, but I think the real solution to the problem is teaching student pilots that there are other pilots out there flying real jobs and they need to come in for a landing as well. That’s why I included the whole spill about the instrument approaches. I think instructors often leave this out because it can be confusing to new students, but I think they can handle it. They need to know that there are other people trying to come in and land, and we need to develop these pilots’ situational awareness. I think that’s the real problem here. Not many VFR pilots have it. Knowing where to look for other aircraft is an important part of “seeing and avoiding”. I love it when a commercial jet comes into a no towered airport when I’m with a student. It gives me an opportunity to show them how to fly a good pattern and still be polite and let those guys in for a landing. It really does go both ways.

[@CURTISEDWARDS-i3l]

Race track traffic pattern safer than rectangle the base to final cross control stalls are killing pilots time for new training.

[@FreePilotTraining]

I’ve certainly heard some interesting arguments to support your theory

[@CURTISEDWARDS-i3l]

The insurance carrier would cancel their coverage if a student has an accident when performing a faa non standard guidelines taught by the school..

[@CURTISEDWARDS-i3l]

There is no faa regulation saying the traffic pattern has to be rectangular..it's the pilot in command decision.

[@CURTISEDWARDS-i3l]

I gave up discussion with cfi's about this some got pissed.

[@FreePilotTraining]

@@CURTISEDWARDS-i3l the military uses circular patterns. I’m sure that’s part of the reason