Closed Patterns and PFLs

[vladd148]

Good day!

After keeping an eye out on this for the past few weeks, I've finally decided to make the jump to PilotEdge, and hoping to be doing a first flight on it sometime later today!

I'm currently an RCAF pilot, undergoing training, and I decided to join in order to get some IF, Nav and clearhood practice.

I was wondering, are closed patterns or PFLs clearances normally given to pilots by controllers? And if so, what is the civilian radio procedure for requesting them? In military flying, for a closed pattern for example, it is simply your callsign (ie "Shotgun 24, closed left/right"). Is it the same here?

Cheers,

Vlad

[Keith Smith]

Hi Vlad, yes, it's very similar. In the US, just request "closed traffic." The tower will specify the direction of the traffic pattern in the takeoff clearance.