Helicopters in Traffic Pattern
Helicopters in Traffic Pattern
Hi all. While flying this week in real life I came upon an interesting situation and I thought it might be a good discussion here as well. At my home airport we fly the standard left hand traffic pattern. While I was preparing to depart a couple of helicopters showed up to do some pattern work. One of them kept making right hand traffic to the runway while airplanes were making left hand traffic as normal. He was politely informed a couple of times that the traffic pattern is left. He then said that since they are a helicopter they are making right hand turns. This was concerning for me as this means he would be flying head on to airplanes during the base leg. Does anyone know if it is true that helicopters have special traffic pattern rules? If so, I will definitely be extra careful when I hear them in the pattern from now on.
-
Ryan Geckler
- Posts: 262
- Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:42 pm
Re: Helicopters in Traffic Pattern
FAR § 91.126 (b)(2).
Each pilot of a helicopter or a powered parachute must avoid the flow of fixed-wing aircraft.
Advisory Circular 90-66 also states that a helicopter should fly an opposite direction pattern.
Each pilot of a helicopter or a powered parachute must avoid the flow of fixed-wing aircraft.
Advisory Circular 90-66 also states that a helicopter should fly an opposite direction pattern.
Ryan Geckler | ERAU CTI Graduate
PilotEdge Air Traffic Control Specialist
PilotEdge Air Traffic Control Specialist
Re: Helicopters in Traffic Pattern
Thanks! Seems counter intuitive. I wish this would have been addressed in my flight training:)
Re: Helicopters in Traffic Pattern
At my home airport, which has a military national guard heli base, I was fortunate enough to be instructed in that exact environment.
Frist off, as above, true.
Secondly, keep in mind, his base leg, while perhaps pointed straight at you, he can stop and wait...
and I've actually seen some hoover on base to allow for clearance. The other alternative, is that if there is a taxi way, and they can maintain 1500ft separation for the first part, they'll just use that, or go straight into the guard ramp area.
The only caution I'll give is that if they are 'holding short' of the runway for departure, but already in a hoover, their blades create HUGE torque -- if you need to, ask them if their blades are torqued and give them the right of way -- it seems to be about a 30-50 ft zone (depending on the heli) that should be avoided, and sometimes that extends onto the runway.
Frist off, as above, true.
Secondly, keep in mind, his base leg, while perhaps pointed straight at you, he can stop and wait...
and I've actually seen some hoover on base to allow for clearance. The other alternative, is that if there is a taxi way, and they can maintain 1500ft separation for the first part, they'll just use that, or go straight into the guard ramp area. The only caution I'll give is that if they are 'holding short' of the runway for departure, but already in a hoover, their blades create HUGE torque -- if you need to, ask them if their blades are torqued and give them the right of way -- it seems to be about a 30-50 ft zone (depending on the heli) that should be avoided, and sometimes that extends onto the runway.