AC 90-66B

Historical

Advisory circular · Non-Towered Airport Flight Operations

A newer version is currentThis is a historical version. AC 90-66C is the version in force, approved June 6, 2023.
Approved
March 13, 2018
Last reviewed
June 9, 2023
This change
AC 90-66B cancels both AC 90-66A, Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns and Practices for Aeronautical Operations at Airports without Operating Control Towers, August 26, 1993; and AC 90-42F, Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports without Operating Control Towers, dated May 21, 1990.
Family
AC 90-66 · 5 versions
Revision
B
14 CFR parts
1, 11, 91, 93, 103, 105

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed November 21, 2025.

Show pages 1–12

12.5.4 When a DZ has been established at an airport, parachutists are expected to land within the DZ. At airports that have not established DZs, parachutists should avoid landing on runways, taxiways, aprons, and their associated safety areas. Pilots and parachutists should both be aware of the limited flight performance of parachutes and take steps to avoid any potential conflicts between aircraft and parachute operations.

12.5.5 Appendix C depicts operations conducted by parachutists.

13 AC FEEDBACK FORM. For your convenience, the AC Feedback Form is the last page of this AC. Note any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements regarding the contents of this AC on the Feedback Form.

J ohn S. Duncan Executive Director, Flight Standards Service

Appendix A APPENDIX A. TRAFFIC PATTERNS Single Runway (Diagram from the AIM, Paragraph 4-3-3)

EXAMPLE− Key to traffic pattern operations

1. Enter pattern in level flight, abeam the midpoint of the runway, at pattern altitude.

2. Maintain pattern altitude until abeam approach end of the landing runway on downwind leg, begin descent and turn base at approximately 45 degrees from the intended landing point.

3. Complete turn to final at least ¼ mile from the runway.

4. Continue straight ahead until beyond departure end of runway.

5. If remaining in the traffic pattern, commence turn to crosswind leg beyond the departure end of the runway within 300 feet of pattern altitude.

6. If departing the traffic pattern, continue straight out, or exit with a 45-degree turn (to the left when in a left-hand traffic pattern; to the right when in a right-hand traffic pattern) beyond the departure end of the runway, after reaching pattern altitude.

A-1

Appendix A Parallel Runways (Diagram from the AIM, Paragraph 4-3-3)

E XAMPLE− Key to traffic pattern operations

1. Enter pattern in level flight, abeam the midpoint of the runway, at pattern altitude.

2. Maintain pattern altitude until abeam approach end of the landing runway on downwind leg, begin descent and turn base at approximately 45 degrees from the intended landing point.

3. Complete turn to final at least ¼ mile from the runway.

4. Continue straight ahead until beyond departure end of runway.

5. If remaining in the traffic pattern, commence turn to crosswind leg beyond the departure end of the runway within 300 feet of pattern altitude.

6. If departing the traffic pattern, continue straight out, or exit with a 45-degree turn (to the left when in a left-hand traffic pattern; to the right when in a right-hand traffic pattern) beyond the departure end of the runway, after reaching pattern altitude.

7. Do not overshoot final or continue on a track which will penetrate the final approach of the parallel runway.

8. Do not continue on a track which will penetrate the departure path of the parallel runway.

A-2

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Appendix B APPENDIX B. GLIDER OPERATIONS Ultralight Aircraft Pattern ULTRALIGHT 500 FOOT

OPERATING AREA PATTERN RUNWAY WIND

SEPARATE ULTRALIGHT OPERATING AREA • ULTRALIGHT OPERATING 500 FOOT AREA SYMBOL

PATTERN Glider Aircraft Pattern

GLIDER PATTERN IS INSIDE THE POWERED PATTERN ENTRY

POWERED AIRCRAFT PATTERN

GLIDER PATTERN ENTRY 600-1000' AGL EXIT TOWS TO 2000- 3000' AGL UPWIND

GLIDER OPERATING AREA

POWERED RUNWAY

GLIDER PATTERN OPPOSITE SIDE AND

SEPARATE FROM POWERED RUNWAY

GLIDER OPERATING AREA GLIDER PATTERN EXIT TOWS TO 2000- 3000' AGL UPWIND

POWERED PATTERN GLIDER PATTERN ENTRY 600-1000' AGL B-1

Page 17OCROpen in PDF

Appendix C APPENDIX C. PARACHUTE OPERATIONS

SIDE VIEW PARACHUTE OPERATIONS

- 2 MILES

- 1 MILE

PROBABLE CHUTE OPENING

EXTREME ZONE EXTREME 3000' $ 2000° PATTERN A 1250' WINDOW 750° w RUNWAY 3000→1

TOP VIEW -AIR TRAFFIC PATTERN 1/2 MILE 4,000' RUNWAY 1 MILE 2 MILES

EXTREME

OPENING ZONE "NOTE: THIS DEPICTS AN AIRPORT

WHERE NO DROP ZONE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED."

C-1

Advisory Circular Feedback Form If you find an error in this AC, have recommendations for improving it, or have suggestions for new items/subjects to be added, you may let us know by contacting the General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS-800) at 9-AFS-800-Correspondence@faa.gov or the Flight Standards Directives Management Officer at 9-AWA-AFS-140-Directives@faa.gov.

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