Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

The AVSIM Community

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Where charts for circuit patterns?

Featured Replies

Hey everyone, I’m trying to prep for my first-ever pattern flights (the classic "box") in the sim, but I’ve hit a total brick wall. I’ve spent hours digging through official AIPs, but it’s like the actual circuit diagrams don't even exist there.

Most charts I find only show those long visual approach routes, but there’s no clear "school-style" diagram that actually shows the altitudes for each turn. I'm looking for the basics: exactly where to make the 1st turn, the specific height for the downwind leg, and where to base the 4th. The official documents seem to skip all that graphical detail.

So, how do you guys actually find these heights and patterns? Is there some secret database I'm missing, or do people just "know" these things? If anyone can point me to an airport that actually has a decent, downloadable circuit chart with all the altitude steps, I’d really appreciate it. I just want to fly it properly instead of just guessing!

 

Jim Driscoll, MSI Raider GE76 12UHS-607 17.3" Gaming Laptop Computer - Blue Intel Core i9 12th Gen 12900HK 1.8GHz Processor; NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 16GB GDDR6; 64GB DDR5-4800 RAM; Dual M2 2TB Solid State Drives.Driving a Sony KD-50X75, and KDL-48R470B @ 4k 3724x2094,MSFS 2020, 30 FPS on Ultra Settings.

Jorg/Asobo: “Weather is a core part of our simulator, and we will strive to make it as accurate as possible.”Also Jorg/Asobo: “We are going to limit the weather API to rain intensity only.”


 

  • Author
14 minutes ago, James Driscoll said:

 

Could you please explain how the actual circling altitude is set? Each airport (as I understand it) has its own altitude. So how do I know at what altitude and where to make the turn?

In the US, IFR SUP has it. Tells you the pattern type and altitude. It's a DOD FLIP, but you can find it online. When popping into fields for transition and IFR/VFR pattern work, we would pull it up to get that info. 

Edited by G550flyer
edit

In the US, maps of VFR patterns are not generally published, but in some cases a chart may be found in the special notices section of the FAA chart supplement.  Unless a nonstandard altitude is specified in the FAA chart supplement, the standard pattern altitude is 1000 ft AGL for prop acft, and 1500 ft AGL for large or turbine-powered acft (or 500 ft above a nonstandard pattern altitude when specified by the supp).  Unless otherwise specified in the chart supp, VFR patterns are left-hand. 

The chart supplements can be found here: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/dafd/

 

Bob Scott | President and CEO, AVSIM Inc
ATP Gulfstream II-III-IV-V

Sys1 (MSFS20+24/XPlane12+11): AMD 9800X3D, water 2x240mm, MSI MPG X670E Carbon, 64GB GSkill 6000/30, nVidia RTX4090FE
Alienware AW3821DW 38" 21:9 GSync, 2x4TB Crucial T705 PCIe5 + 2x2TB Samsung 990 SSD, EVGA 1000P2 PSU, 12.9" iPad Pro
Thrustmaster TCA Boeing Yoke, TCA Airbus Sidestick, Twin TCA Airbus Throttle quads, PFC Cirrus Pedals, Coolermaster HAF932 case

Sys2 (P3Dv5/v4): i9-13900KS, water 2x360mm, ASUS Z790 Hero, 32GB GSkill 7800MHz CAS36, ASUS RTX4090
Samsung 55" JS8500 4K TV@60Hz,
3x 2TB WD SN850X 1x 4TB Crucial P3 M.2 NVME SSD, EVGA 1600T2 PSU
Fiber link to Yamaha RX-V467 Home Theater Receiver, Polk/Klipsch 6" bookshelf speakers, Polk 12" subwoofer, 12.9" iPad Pro
PFC yoke/throttle quad/pedals with custom Hall sensor retrofit, Thermaltake View 71 case, Stream Deck XL button box

Sys3 (DCS/P3Dv4/ATS/ETS): AMD 7800X3D, MSI MPG X870E Carbon, Noctua NH-D15S, 64GB GSkill 6000/30, EVGA RTX3090
Alienware AW3420DW 34" 21:9 GSync, Corsair HX1000i PSU, 4TB Crucial T705 PCIe5 + 2TB Samsung 970Evo Plus,
TM TCA Officer Pack
, Saitek combat pedals, TM Warthog, TM RS300 FF wheel/pedals, Coolermaster HAF XB case

Create an account or sign in to comment

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.