Online Ground School (Private Pilot)
Lesson 14.6: Wind Indicators & Traffic Patterns
Airport Wind Indicators
Reference: ACS PA.III.A.K1 - K9, PA.III.B.K1 - K4 PHAK Chapter 14
Wind indications are provided by both wind indicators and ATC or FSS at towered airports. But, at non-towered airports where there is no source of verbal communication of the current winds, wind indicators are used. Indicators are found near the runway and located in a segmented circle, which shows the traffic pattern directions. There are a few types of indicators used.
-
Wind cone
-
Windsocks
-
Tetrahedron
-
Wind tee
TIP:
The windsock should be used as the primary source of wind information.


Traffic Patterns
At non-towered airports segmented circles are located in an area near the runways that pilots can easily see it from the air. Segmented circles are to provide basic traffic pattern information.
-
At most airports and military air fields the traffic pattern altitude (TPA) for piston aircraft is 600 feet up to 1,500 feet AGL.
-
Traffic pattern altitude for military turbojet aircraft is 2,500 feet AGL
-
To find the exact traffic pattern direction and traffic pattern altitude (TPA) for any airport can be found in the Chart Supplement U.S.
TIP:
Traffic pattern altitude (TPA) for piston aircraft is recommended 1,000 feet AGL above airport elevation. Unless otherwise established.

