Compliance with the basic rectangular traffi c pattern reduces  the possibility of conflicts at airports without an operating  control tower. It is imperative that the pilot form the habit of  exercising constant vigilance in the vicinity of airports even  though the air traffic appears to be light. The objective is to  have both the fast and the slower weight-shift control (WSC)  aircraft completing the pattern at the same interval. The slower the aircraft is, the tighter the pattern is, as shown  in  Figure 10-1.  The terminology is a “tight pattern” or “inside  pattern” for the slower WSC aircraft in operations with faster  aircraft. Using  Figure 10-1  as an example, if the airplane is  flying the pattern at 80 knots and the WSC aircraft is fl ying  an inside pattern at 40 knots (that is half the distance), then  the WSC aircraft and the airplane will fly around the pattern  with the same interval. The WSC pilot must determine  the size of the pattern to create the same interval. This is  commonplace at nontowered airports where WSC aircraft  operate with faster aircraft. Both aircraft are going around  the pattern at the same time with the slower WSC aircraft  flying a tighter pattern and the faster airplane flying the larger  pattern. In  Figure 10-2,  the WSC aircraft is establishing an  inside airport pattern turning from crosswind to downwind.  In  Figure 10-3,  the aircraft shown is in the middle of the  downwind leg flying an inside pattern.  When entering the traffic pattern at an airport without an  operating control tower, inbound pilots are expected to  listen to the other aircraft on the CTAF (Common Traffi c  Advisory Frequency), observe other aircraft already in the  pattern, and conform to the traffic pattern in use. If other  aircraft are not in the pattern, then traffic indicators on the  ground and wind indicators must be checked to determine  which runway and traffic pattern direction should be used.  [Figure 10-4  and  10-5]  Many airports have L-shaped traffi c  pattern indicators displayed with a segmented circle adjacent  to the runway. The short member of the L shows the direction  in which traffic pattern turns should be made when using  the runway parallel to the long member. These indicators  should be checked while at a distance away from any pattern  that might be in use, or while at a safe height above pattern  altitudes. When the proper traffic pattern direction has been  determined, the pilot should then proceed to a point clear of  the pattern before descending to the pattern altitude. Takeoff Downwind Crosswind Departure Climb Figure 10-2. After takeoff and departure, turning from the crosswind to the downwind leg while climbing to pattern altitude. 10-4