Flying the traffic pattern properly at an airport is essential-it's one of the marks of a pro pilot, a pilot who is careful, thoughtful, and well-prepared. Amazingly, traffic patterns are frequently flown incorrectly. Or, pilots don't adhere to common practices out of convenience or laziness. For student pilots, traffic patterns are confusing and difficult to visualize. These factors increase the likelihood of traffic pattern-related accidents and incidents.

Years ago, just prior to the EAA's AirVenture airshow, I flew a Piper Arrow into Fon du Lac, Wisconsin (KFLD). As a relief airport for many aircraft flying to the airshow, KFLD was saturated with traffic on the ground and in the air. Approaching a proper 45-degree left-traffic downwind entry for runway 36, getting ready to turn downwind, I suddenly saw a Piper Comanche entering the downwind from overhead the field. He was about 20' below my altitude in a left bank. I quickly pulled up, added power, and banked right to avoid a collision. At no time did I hear any radio calls on the CTAF from this Comanche.

Why was the Comanche where he was? Was he confused? Did he have a poor understanding of uncontrolled field pattern entry? What about radio calls? Surely an aircraft such as a Comanche has an operating radio. To this day, I count my lucky stars, that incident being the closest I've come to a mid-air collision.

According to faasafety.gov, "Statistics on 105 in-flight collisions that occurred from 1964 to 1968 show that 82 percent had convergence angles associated with one aircraft overtaking another." That sounds eerily similar to the experience I encountered at KFLD that day.

The anatomy of a traffic pattern requires great explanation, which is outside the scope of this article. But, it falls on every pilot to brush up on standard pattern practices-and to follow them each and every time. You can find information in Advisory Circular AC 90-66A: Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns and Practices for Aeronautical Operations at Airports Without Operating Control Towers. Although traffic patterns have elements of regulatory requirements, traffic pattern adherence is largely a recommended procedure. Some key points in the AC include:

"Use of standard traffic patterns for all aircraft and CTAF procedures by radio equipped aircraft are recommended at all airports without operating control towers. However, it is recognized that other traffic patterns may already be in common use at some airports or that special circumstances or conditions exist that may prevent use of the standard traffic pattern," and;

"As part of the preflight familiarization with all available information concerning a flight, each pilot should review all appropriate publications (Chart Supplement, AIM, Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), etc.), for pertinent information on current traffic patterns at the departure and arrival airports," and;

"The FAA encourages pilots to use the standard traffic pattern. However, for those pilots who choose to execute a straight-in approach, maneuvering for and execution of the approach should be completed so as not to disrupt the flow of arriving and departing traffic. Therefore, pilots operating in the traffic pattern should be alert at all times to aircraft executing straight-in approaches."

With my flight students, I regularly pushed the use of the Chart Supplement (many of us remember that as the previously-named Airport/Facility Directory). You can search the Chart Supplement entry for any airport at faa.gov. Note the case of KFLD, which shows both left and right traffic (illustrated), depending on the runway. Be certain that you use the Chart Supplement in your flight planning, and plan ahead as to how you'll enter the traffic pattern upon arrival. Since most aircraft have radios, brush up on your CTAF communication skills as well, and review the AIM to ensure you're communicating according to proper standards.

Of most importance, practice thorough see-and-avoid. Be extra vigilant around every airport. Use the scanning techniques outlined in AC 90-66B, including side-to-side and front-to-side block scanning. Make sure your windshield is clean, avoid distractions (please don't listen to music either, as I've seen some pilots do), and ensure you've done your planning and preparation. We all need to do our part to keep the airport environment safe-that's one of the many ways we each strive to fly like pro pilots.