aware of your position relative to other aircraft in the  traffic pattern and avoid the flow of fixed-wing air- craft. Helicopters fall under this same rule. This rule  frequently affects the choice for a landing site. Refer  to Chapter 5 for more information on selecting a land- ing site and airport operation information. It is very important to note 14 CFR part 91 requires  powered parachutes to avoid the flow of fixed-wing  aircraft. Additional information on airport operations  can be found in the  Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and the  Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical  Knowledge. Every flight begins and ends at an  airport; an airport,  as defined by the Federal Aviation Regulations, is an  area of land or water that is used or intended to be  used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. For this  reason, it is essential you learn the traffic rules, pro- cedures, and patterns that may be in use at various  airports. With that in mind, you must understand the standard  airport traffic pattern in use at the airport you are oper- ating at and the traffic pattern you are flying to main- tain separation from other aircraft traffic. Powered parachutes operate best from a grass surface,  due to less wear and tear on the canopy. However,  off-runway operation may disrupt normal airport op- erations and may not be safe for the PPC due to poor  surface conditions. If an off-runway area is used for  PPC operations, examine the area for surface condi- tion, holes, standing water, rocks, vegetation height,  moguls, fences, wires and other hazards. A traffic pattern may be established for an off-runway  operating area. The traffic pattern may not, and prob- ably will not, conform to the airplane traffic pattern. It  is still your responsibility to avoid the flow of airplane  traffic. Most aviation accidents occur within a few miles of  the airport. This is where congestion is the heaviest  and the pilot is the busiest. “ See and avoid” is critical for safe operations. Ad- visories on the  common traffic advisory frequency  (CTAF) are essential at nontower-controlled airports  and flying fields to advise other aircraft of your posi- tion and intentions. If you elect to use the airport runway, take into con- sideration any  crosswind that may be present. The air- port runway may not be aligned close enough into the  wind for your flying skills or may exceed the canopy  limitations. To enhance safety around airports, specific traffic pat- terns and traffic control procedures have been estab- lished at airports. The traffic patterns provide specific  routes for takeoffs, departures, arrivals, and landings.  The exact nature of each airport traffic pattern is de- pendent on the runway in use, wind conditions, ob - structions, and other factors. The established powered parachute traffic pattern for  an airport might be similar to the standard traffic pat- tern or it might use turns in the opposite direction.  [Figure 10-1] In both cases, use a standard rectangular  pattern with a pattern altitude one-half the airplane  traffic pattern altitude or as published (if published).  An airport may also use a smaller pattern, referred to  as a “ tight pattern” or “inside pattern,” and it might be  in the same direction as the other traffic or opposite.  This smaller pattern combined with a pattern altitude  of one-half the airport traffic pattern helps ensure sep- Different traffic patterns at the same airport may be  established for heavy aircraft, general aviation aircraft,  gliders and light-sport aircraft (LSA) operations. The  largest factor in determining the proper traffic pattern  is  airspeed. Slow aircraft do not mix well with fast air- craft. The powered parachute is at the slow end of the  speed range of aircraft found around most airports.  Regardless of the traffic pattern flown, you must be  10-1 Airport Traffic Patterns and  Operations