FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)Airspace and NavigationMedium
A pilot approaching a non-towered airport with no operating control tower observes a segmented circle in the center of the airfield, with an 'L' shaped landing strip indicator beside one runway. What information does this indicator provide?
- AThe minimum safe altitude for arriving aircraft
- BThe direction of turns to be made in the traffic pattern for that runway
- CThe displaced threshold location for that runway
- DThe location of the airport's fixed-base operator
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. The direction of turns to be made in the traffic pattern for that runway
Landing strip indicators within a segmented circle show the alignment of each runway, and the traffic pattern indicators (extended from them) show the direction of turns for the pattern at that runway, especially useful when a non-standard (left/right) pattern is in use.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Minimum safe altitudes are published on approach charts, not the segmented circle.
- C. Displaced thresholds are marked on the runway itself, not in the segmented circle.
- D. FBO locations are not depicted by segmented circle components.
Segmented Circle System
A visual ground marking at non-towered airports that shows traffic pattern information, including runway alignment and turn direction, along with a wind direction indicator.
- Located near the center of the airport
- Landing strip indicators show runway alignment
- Traffic pattern indicators show turn direction (left/right)
- A wind sock or tetrahedron shows wind direction
Memory trick: Segmented circle = the airport's traffic pattern cheat-sheet