The circuit and the runway

Runway numbers

A runway is numbered by its magnetic direction rounded to the nearest ten degrees, with the last digit dropped. A runway pointing 272 degrees is runway 27. The same strip of tarmac used in the other direction is runway 09.

Aircraft take off and land into wind wherever possible, so the wind decides which runway is in use.

The four legs

Upwind — climbing straight ahead after take-off along the runway direction.

Crosswind — the first turn, at right angles to the runway.

Downwind — parallel to the runway, flying the opposite way, usually at circuit height (often 1000 feet above the aerodrome).

Base — the turn back towards the runway, descending.

Final — lined up with the runway, on the approach to land.

A left hand circuit means all the turns are to the left. Runway 27 with a left hand circuit puts all the flying to the south of the field.

Clearances on the ground and in the air

'Cleared to land' is permission for that aircraft to land on that runway. It is given only when the runway is clear, or will clearly be clear in time.

'Line up and wait' puts an aircraft on the runway ready to go, but does not authorise take-off. It is a useful way to save time — and a dangerous one if you forget the aircraft is sitting there.

'Go around' cancels an approach. Say it twice: 'go around, I say again, go around'. A go-around is never a failure — it is the correct answer when the runway is not going to be clear.