RUNWAY Final Approach Departure Downwind Leg Base Leg Upwind Leg Crosswind Leg Direction of Landing Figure 10-10. Upwind leg. that may be on the final approach. This is especially important  since the WSC aircraft is in a tighter pattern and could be  flying onto the final approach of faster airplanes. The final approach leg is a descending fl ightpath starting  from the completion of the base-to-final turn and extending to  the point of touchdown. This is probably the most important  leg of the entire pattern because the pilot’s judgment and  procedures must be the sharpest to control the airspeed and  descent angle accurately while approaching the intended  touchdown point. As stipulated in 14 CFR part 91, aircraft while on fi nal  approach to land or while landing have the right-of-way over  other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface. When two  or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of  landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right of way.  A pilot should not take advantage of this rule to cut in front  of or overtake another aircraft on fi nal approach. The departure leg of the rectangular pattern is a straight  course aligned with, and leading from, the takeoff runway.  This leg begins at the point the aircraft leaves the ground  and continues until the 90° turn onto the crosswind leg is  started. On the departure leg after takeoff, the pilot should  continue climbing straight ahead, and, if remaining in the  traffic pattern, commence a turn to the crosswind leg beyond  the departure end of the runway within 300 feet of pattern  altitude. If departing the traffic pattern, continue straight out  or exit with a 45° turn (to the left when in a left-hand traffi c  pattern; to the right when in a right-hand traffi c pattern)  beyond the departure end of the runway after reaching  pattern altitude. An upwind leg is a course flown parallel to the landing  runway, but in the same direction as the intended landing  direction. The upwind leg continues past a point abeam the  departure end of the runway to where a medium bank 90°  turn is made onto the crosswind leg. The upwind leg is also  the transitional part of the traffic pattern when on the fi nal  approach and a go-around is initiated and climb attitude is  established. When a safe altitude is attained, the pilot should  commence a shallow bank turn to the right side of the runway.  This allows better visibility of the runway for departing  aircraft.  [Figure 10-10] The crosswind leg is the part of the rectangular pattern that is  horizontally perpendicular to the extended centerline of the  takeoff runway and is entered by making approximately a 90°  turn from the departure or upwind leg. On the crosswind leg,  the aircraft proceeds to the downwind leg position. Pilots must research and determine from prefl ight preparation  the possible runways and patterns for runways at the intended  airports for the flight. The pilot must determine the actual  pattern at the airport from observation and talking with other  pilots on the CTAF or from the wind direction if no other  pilots are in the pattern. Normal airport patterns are always  left hand unless indicated otherwise. In most cases, the takeoff is made into the wind in which  case it is now approximately perpendicular to the aircraft’s  flightpath. As a result, the aircraft has to be turned or headed  slightly into the wind while on the crosswind leg to maintain  a ground track that is perpendicular to the runway centerline  extension. Airport patterns provide organized air traffi c flows into and  out of an airport. An airport traffic pattern is established  appropriate to the local conditions, including the direction and  placement of the pattern, altitude to be flown, and procedures  for entering and leaving the pattern.  The legs of an airport pattern from takeoff are: Chapter Summary •  Departure—direction of takeoff on the centerline of  the runway • Crosswind—first 90° turn flying perpendicular to the  takeoff direction •  Downwind—second 90° turn flying parallel to the  takeoff direction opposite the direction of takeoff and  landing •  Base—third 90° turn flying perpendicular towards the  runway centerline •  Final—forth 90° turn headed down the centerline of  the runway to land 10-8