Can you find your downwind?

Sep 27, 2026

You're 6 miles northwest flying 172RB. It's a busy day, with four other planes in the pattern. The tower gives you a pattern instruction. Can you sort out the correct entry? (Sound on for this one.)

ARight downwind, runway 22

That's it, well done.

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BRight downwind, runway 4

Sorry, but that's the right-hand pattern downwind for runway 4. Option A is the correct pattern entry.

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CLeft downwind, runway 4

Sorry, but that's the left downwind for runway 4. The plane ahead of you, 59K, corrected herself after first acknowledging runway 4, but you're both headed for runway 22. Option A is the correct pattern entry.

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DRight downwind, runway 28

Sorry, but that's the right-hand pattern downwind for runway 28. It helps to check the HSI and try to visualize the pattern there. Option A is the correct pattern entry.

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Pick an answer. You can try as many as you like.

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The explanation

A. Right downwind, runway 22

What the tower said

Tower tells 172RB: "You're following a Cirrus on a 3 mile final. Number four. Plan to join the right downwind for runway 22." That's the whole instruction: right traffic, runway 22.

Picture the pattern

You're approaching from the northwest. The runway running across the frame is 4/22, with the 22 end on the left near the intersection. The north arrow on the map points to the lower left, so you're coming in from the bottom of the frame. Right traffic for 22 puts the downwind on the side you're coming from, and the tower needs you to turn left to come in behind 59K, already on the downwind.

Don't follow the wrong readback

The airplane ahead of you, 59K, first acknowledged runway 4, then corrected herself. You're both headed for runway 22. Listen for your own call sign and your own runway.

Right traffic

Left traffic is the default, but the tower can assign right traffic, and some runways publish it. When tower says right downwind, that's your pattern. "Plan to join the right downwind" also isn't a landing clearance. Until you hear your call sign with "cleared to land," you're not cleared.