Exiting traffic pattern

Depart the airport as depicted at point 6(straight out or at a 45 degree angle, after reaching pattern altitude). You can climb straight to your cruising altitude, once clear of pattern(approx. 2 miles), turn to your on-course heading. Normal traffic pattern is Left pattern.

Thanks for that picture!

But now what if I want to go in the direction plane 2 is flying in that picture? Fly the departure leg, crosswind leg and downwind leg at traffic hight and after that keep flying straight and climb to cruise altitude?

Thanks for that picture!

But now what if I want to go in the direction plane 2 is flying in that picture? Fly the departure leg, crosswind leg and downwind leg at traffic hight and after that keep flying straight and climb to cruise altitude?

M15A wrote:

Thanks for that picture!
But now what if I want to go in the direction plane 2 is flying in that picture? Fly the departure leg, crosswind leg and downwind leg at traffic hight and after that keep flying straight and climb to cruise altitude?

You don't fly the other legs of the pattern for departure. You would depart straight out(climbing to your cruise altitude). When you are clear of the pattern(approx. 2 miles) turn in whatever direction you want.

I'm sorry, after reading your post again I think you mean that you always exit the traffic pattern at point 6 on that picture, climb to cruise altitude and from there turn to whichever direction you want to fly to?

is that right?

CRJCapt wrote:

M15A wrote:

Thanks for that picture!
But now what if I want to go in the direction plane 2 is flying in that picture? Fly the departure leg, crosswind leg and downwind leg at traffic hight and after that keep flying straight and climb to cruise altitude?

You don't fly the other legs of the pattern for departure. You would depart straight out(climbing to your cruise altitude). When you are clear of the pattern(approx. 2 miles) turn in whatever direction you want.

You are just a little faster! 😉

Thanks for your answers!

M15A wrote:

I'm sorry, after reading your post again I think you mean that you always exit the traffic pattern at point 6 on that picture, climb to cruise altitude and from there turn to whichever direction you want to fly to? is that right?

Yes but you don't have to be at cruise altitude to turn. Your cruise altitude could be 8,000 feet. I just meant that you don't have stop your climb at pattern altitude, just continue to climb. The turn point(on-course) is based on position(clear of pattern area) not altitude.

Thanks man!

So what about entering? Is there a standard 'leg' you enter the pattern?

M15A wrote:

Thanks man!
So what about entering? Is there a standard 'leg' you enter the pattern?

Yes, point 1(downwind leg), at pattern altitude. You could also enter straight in on final but you have to be careful of any aircraft in the pattern already. That's at a uncontrolled airport. The tower can instruct you to enter the pattern at any point, normally downwind, base or final.