THE CIRCUIT

PATTERN
Presented by :
Captain Chege Maina
WHAT IS A CIRCUIT
PATTERN?
• A circuit pattern is a standard path
followed by aircraft when taking off or
landing.
• It involves making approaches to the
runway for touch and go or fullstop
landing.
• The standard circuit height is 1000 ft
above airport elevation.
 TYPES OF CIRCUIT PATTERNS
• We have two types of circuit patterns,
namely;
i. Left hand circuit
ii. Right hand circuit 36
 CIRCUIT PATTERN
•Why do we have circuit patterns?

For training purposes

For positioning aircraft
To keep a sequence
For safety purposes
 CIRCUIT PATTERN
• A circuit is divided into various legs:
a. Upwind leg
b. Crosswind leg
c. Downwind leg
d. Base leg
e. Final leg
CIRCUIT PATTERN
 UPWIND LEG
•The upwind leg is a course
flown in the same direction
to the landing runway.
CROSSWIND LEG
•The crosswind leg is leg that
comes after the upwind leg
and is followed by the
downwind leg.
DOWNWIND LEG
•The downwind leg is the
segment when the aircraft is
flying parallel to the runway but
in the opposite direction of
landing.
 THE BASE LEG
•The base leg is a phase of
flight where the aircraft turns
at a right angle from the
downwind to head toward the
final leg.
 THE FINAL LEG
•The final leg is where the
aircraft is lined up with the
runway and is ready to touch
down.
THANK YOU
EVERYONE