Wikipedia:Today's second feature/January 21, 2006
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![Airport traffic pattern diagram](http://chped.net/https/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Airport_traffic_pattern.jpg/250px-Airport_traffic_pattern.jpg)
An airfield traffic pattern is a standard path followed by aircraft when taking off or landing at an airport. The pattern (or circuit) is used to coordinate air traffic and differs from straight-in approaches and departures in that aircraft remain in close proximity to the airport. Circuits are usually employed at small general aviation (GA) airfields and military airbases.
Illustration credit: Ericg