landing pattern
Aircraft descent choreography
A landing pattern is the standardized flight path aircraft follow when approaching an airport to land.
Pilots enter the pattern at a designated altitude and position, then fly a rectangular course—typically with downwind, base, and final legs—that sequences them safely with other traffic.
We're in the landing pattern now; we'll be on the ground in a few minutes.
- approachWay of handling something
- flight pathPlanned aerial trajectory
- final approachLanding's concluding flight path
- runwayPaved path for planes
- runway lightsIlluminated aircraft landing guides
descent · circuit · glide · altitude · clearance · control tower · touchdown · touch and go · go around · final · crosswind · downwind · base · flaps · gear · tower · threshold · airstrip