PA.III.B.S4FAA-S-ACS-6C · Nov 2023Skills

Maintain orientation with the runway/landing area in use.

ACS element text (the applicant demonstrates understanding of)

Maintain orientation with the runway/landing area in use.

Bottom line

Enter the traffic pattern in level flight, abeam the midpoint of the runway, at pattern altitude. Complete the turn to final at least 1/4 mile from the runway. Traffic pattern indicators are arranged in pairs with landing strip indicators and indicate the direction of turns when there is a variation from the normal left traffic pattern.

FAA references

  1. AIM 4-3-3 (Traffic Patterns) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
  2. PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-20) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
  3. PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-28) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
  4. 14 CFR 91.113 (Right-of-way rules: Except water operations.) — eCFR current as of 2026-03-05
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