FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)RegulationsMedium
A sport pilot is landing at a nontowered airport with no published traffic pattern indicators. According to 14 CFR 91.126, which direction must all turns in the traffic pattern be made?
- ATurn direction is at the pilot's discretion based on wind
- BTurns must alternate between left and right on each circuit
- CAll turns must be made to the right
- DAll turns must be made to the left
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. All turns must be made to the left
14 CFR 91.126(b) requires that, unless the airport displays approved light signals, visual markings, or a control tower directs otherwise, each pilot approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace must make all turns of the traffic pattern to the left.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Pilots must follow the standard left-turn pattern unless otherwise indicated, not personal discretion.
- B. Alternating turn direction is never the rule.
- C. Right turns require an established alternate pattern, indicated by markings or segmented circle.
Standard Traffic Pattern (91.126)
At an airport without an operating control tower and no indicated alternate pattern, all traffic pattern turns must be made to the left.
- Default rule under 14 CFR 91.126(b)
- Right-hand patterns must be indicated by markings/segmented circle
- Applies in Class G airspace at surface
Memory trick: Left is Legal by default at uncontrolled fields