AhaBulbStuff Everyone Should Know
AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/pilot-traffic-pattern-left

Unless otherwise indicated, which way are turns made in an airport traffic pattern?

To the left.

Start playing free

  1. To the left ✔
  2. To the right
  3. Toward the tower

Why: The AIM says that unless otherwise indicated, all traffic pattern turns are to the left. Right patterns are shown on charts or by traffic pattern indicators near a segmented circle.

Huh, didn't know that: Charts show right traffic patterns with the letters RP followed by the runway numbers.

The dad joke
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: To the left. The AIM says that unless otherwise indicated, all traffic pattern turns are to the left. Right patterns are shown on charts or by traffic pattern indicators near a segmented circle.

  1. AIM 4-3 Airport Operations www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap4_section_3.html
    Unless otherwise indicated, all turns in the traffic pattern must be made to the left
    Checked 2026-10-09.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

FlyingWhich end of a wind sock points into the wind?FlyingWhat is the preferred traffic pattern entry from the downwind side at a nontowered airport?FlyingWhich everyday flight path does the rectangular course maneuver copy?

That's stuff everyone should know.