May 16, 2026 · 25 min · 15 segments
The airport traffic pattern is one of the highest-risk environments in aviation for mid-air collisions — and non-standard maneuvering is often a major factor. In this episode of the On Centerline…
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Uh, to give you a little bit of background, though, you know, when we're reading in the FAA publications, uh, there is in the AIM, this is AIM 4-3, uh, dash ...
It's a bit- it, it's a couple paragraphs, but, uh, I think this'll set the scene, and then we'll talk about what I've witnessed, uh, personally, and then we're gonna talk about some recommendations on how we might consider changing our behaviors.
So 4-3-5 in the AIM here, this is unexpected maneuvers in the airport traffic pattern, and it reads, "There have been several incidents in the vicinity of controlled airports that were caused primarily by aircraft executing unexpected maneuvers.
Controllers establish the sequence of arriving and departing aircraft by requiring them to adjust flight as necessary to achieve proper spacing.
These adjustments can only be based on observed traffic, accurate pilot reports, and anticipated aircraft maneuvers.
Pilots are expected to co- uh, cooperate so as to preclude disrupting traffic flows or creating conflicting patterns.
The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for and is the final authority as to the operation of the aircraft.
On occasion, it may be necessary for pilots to maneuver their aircraft to maintain spacing with the traffic they have been sequenced to follow.
The controller can anticipate minor maneuverings, as it, such as shallow S-turns.
The controller cannot, however, anticipate a major maneuver such as a 360-degree turn.
If a pilot makes a 360-degree turn after obtaining a landing sequence, the result is usually a gap in the landing interval, and more importantly, it causes a chain reaction which may result in a conflict with following traffic and an interruption of the sequence established by the tower or approach controller.
Should a pilot decide to make a maneuvering turns, uh, to maintain spacing behind a preceding aircraft, the pilot should always advise the controller if at all possible.
Except when requested by the controller or in emergency situations, a 360-degree turn should never be executed in the traffic pattern or when receiving radar service without first advising the controller." Okay.
That was the paragraph, folks, and you may have noticed that it explicitly only talks about patterns in the controlled airport environment.
Uh, to give you a little bit of background, though, you know, when we're reading in the FAA publications, uh, there is in the AIM, this is AIM 4-3, uh, dash ...
It's a bit- it, it's a couple paragraphs, but, uh, I think this'll set the scene, and then we'll talk about what I've witnessed, uh, personally, and then we're gonna talk about some recommendations on how we might consider changing our behaviors.
So 4-3-5 in the AIM here, this is unexpected maneuvers in the airport traffic pattern, and it reads, "There have been several incidents in the vicinity of controlled airports that were caused primarily by aircraft executing unexpected maneuvers.
Controllers establish the sequence of arriving and departing aircraft by requiring them to adjust flight as necessary to achieve proper spacing.
These adjustments can only be based on observed traffic, accurate pilot reports, and anticipated aircraft maneuvers.
Pilots are expected to co- uh, cooperate so as to preclude disrupting traffic flows or creating conflicting patterns.
The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for and is the final authority as to the operation of the aircraft.
On occasion, it may be necessary for pilots to maneuver their aircraft to maintain spacing with the traffic they have been sequenced to follow.
The controller can anticipate minor maneuverings, as it, such as shallow S-turns.
The controller cannot, however, anticipate a major maneuver such as a 360-degree turn.
If a pilot makes a 360-degree turn after obtaining a landing sequence, the result is usually a gap in the landing interval, and more importantly, it causes a chain reaction which may result in a conflict with following traffic and an interruption of the sequence established by the tower or approach controller.
Should a pilot decide to make a maneuvering turns, uh, to maintain spacing behind a preceding aircraft, the pilot should always advise the controller if at all possible.
Except when requested by the controller or in emergency situations, a 360-degree turn should never be executed in the traffic pattern or when receiving radar service without first advising the controller." Okay.
That was the paragraph, folks, and you may have noticed that it explicitly only talks about patterns in the controlled airport environment.
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