Aircraft in the Pattern
The pilot of an aircraft in VFR conditions is always responsible for seeing and avoiding other aircraft. This list is a quick shortcut to help you identify aircraft in the pattern. You can find pictures and info on all of these planes at Airliners.net.
When identifying your aircraft while approaching the pattern it helps others to identify your aircraft if you give identifying details. “Cessna 1EE abeam the tower” lets others in the pattern now where you are located—abeam the tower at traffic pattern altitude—but it doesn’t help them find you or judge your speed. The other pilots don’t know if there is a high wing 152 flying at 60 kts or a twin-engine 310 at 160 kts. Since the objective of radio calls around the pattern is to let other pilots know where you are, you don’t have to use the same terminology that you would use with ATC. If you are flying a tail-wheel Cessna 180 Skywagon or a tri-cycle gear Cessna 182 that doesn’t have the extra features that the marketing department put on for Skylanes, it makes sense to identify yourself as a Skylane. Everyone knows what a Skylane looks like and how fast they fly so they will know what to expect when looking for you. Similarly if you fly a Mooney, you might think there is a big difference between and Ovation and a Bravo but pilots in the pattern don’t really care. If you identify yourself as Mooney pilots know to look for a sleek, low-wing, fast airplane.
Single-engine Low Wing
Very Fast—Pilatus, Saratoga, Malibu
Fast—Cirrus, Lancair, Columbia, Mooney, Bonanza, Arrow, Trinadad
Medium—Comanche, Archer, Cherokee 6, Cheetah
Slow—Cherokee, Tomahawk
Single-engine High Wing
Fast—Centurion (210), Stationair, Caravan
Medium—Skyhawk (172), Skylane (182), Maule, Husky
Slow—Cessna 150-152, Cub, Citabria
Biplanes
Pitts, Stearman, Waco
Twin-engine Low Wing
King Air, Crusader, 310, Baron, Seneca, Navajo, Aztec, Cheyenne, Twin Cessna
Twin-engine High Wing
Commander, Mitsubishi
Twin-engine High Wing Feeder Airliners
Dornier, Dash 8, Brasilia, Embraer
Twin-engine Low Wing Feeder Airliners
Saab
Private Jets
RJ, Citation, Hawker, Eclipse, Dornier