Legal Interpretations
Gossman 2011
Summary
The Question
Does the AIM's recommended 45-degree entry to the downwind leg, which uses a right turn to join a left traffic pattern, violate 14 CFR 91.126(b)(1)?
Background
A requester argued that the 45-degree downwind entry recommended in AIM section 4-3-3 puts pilots in technical violation of the rule requiring left turns when approaching to land at nontowered airports in Class G airspace.
The FAA’s Interpretation
No. 14 CFR 91.126(b)(1) does not prohibit maneuvers necessary to safely enter the flow of traffic at the airport, and the rule itself contemplates right turns. The AIM's 45-degree entry, also recommended in Advisory Circular 90-66A, is a recommended maneuver to safely enter traffic and does not contradict the regulation.
- Requester
- Gossman
- Issued
- May 9, 2011
- Subject
- General Operating & Flight Rules
Regulations Cited
Unreadable text from the scan (such as a barcode or stamp) is left out of the text below; the original letter shows it exactly.
Page 1
U.S. Deportment
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
Administration
MAY - 9 21JW.
Mitchell Gossman
Dear Mr. Gossman:
Office of the Chief Coun sel
..; . ,;..
800 Independen ce Ave., S.W.
Washington, O.C. 20591
This is in rcspon se to your letter dated January 5, 2011, requesting an interpretation on whether guidance in the Aeronautical Information Manual ("AIM") conflicts with 14 C.F.R. 91.126(b)(l).
Section 91.126(b)(I) states:
(b) Direction ofturns. When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace- ( I) Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns of that airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right . . . . In your letter, you state that the AIM section 4-3-3, as well as many other sources, describes the safest method for pattern entry as using a 45-degree entry to the downwind, meaning a turn to the right to enter a left traffic pattern. The AIM provides a diagram depicting this recommendation. You state that this recornrnendation would put a pilot in technical violation of section 91.126(b)(l). We disagl-ee.':· Section 91.126(b)(I) applies to pilots approaching to land at an airport without a control tower and is designed to promote predictable aircraft maneuvers, traffic flows and patterns in Class G uncontrolled airspace. The AIM, while not regulatory, consists ofrecommended procedures to assist pilots in executing their responsibilities as required by the regulations. Section 91.126(b)(1) does not prohibit a 45-degree rightturn from the entry leg onto the downwind leg because we have long considered that this rule does not prohibit maneuvers necessary to safely enter the flow of traffic at the airport. The regulation itself contemplates that right turns may be necessary or required: ". .. in which case the pilot must make al l turns to the right .... " 14 C.F.R. 91.126(b)(l).
In accordance with this legal opinion, Advisory Circular 90-66A states that arriving aircraft should enter the downwind leg at a 45-degree angle abeam the midpoint of the runway. See Advisory Circular 90-66A (Aug. 26, 1993) (preceded by Advisory Circular 90-66 (Feb. 27, 1975), which included the recommendation tom.al<~-~~ 45-degree angle to the downwind leg abeam the midpoint of the runway to enter the standard traffic pattern). The identical
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guidance in the AIM section 4-3-3 is a recommended maneuver to safely. enter the flow of traffic and .does not contradict 14 C.F.R. 91.126(b)(l).
I hope this information has been helpful. This interpretation has been coordinated with Flight Standards Service-General Aviation and Commercial Division. If you have further questions concerning this .interpretation, please contact Sabrina Jawed on my staff at 202- 267-3073.
Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations, AGCP.200• t ~
Regulations Referenced
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.