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FAR 91.126 (b) Direction of turns

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FAA Regulations

FAR 91.126 talks about left turns in the pattern at uncontrolled airports, and references left turns "unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings" indicating right turns.  I assume "visual markings" would be segmented circles, but what would constitute "approved light signals" at a non-towered field?

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1 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Apr 11, 2023

    I dug out my Sanderson Private Pilot training book from 1970 (Jeppesen and Sanderson were two different companies at that time). It states that “A flashing amber light, near the center of the segmented circle or on top of the windsock, control tower or adjoining building, indicates that a right traffic pattern is in effect at the time.”

    In over 50 years of flying, I have never seen a flashing amber light.

    Things are much simpler now, since the sectional chart includes a notation of runways with right traffic (i.e. RP18).

    Also, note that the language in 91.126 only applies to airplanes, so if you hear a helicopter or other category of aircraft making radio calls announcing a right pattern for a runway using left traffic for airplanes, they are not breaking a regulation.

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