Which leg is defined as a flight path opposite to the direction of landing, parallel to the runway?

Which leg is defined as a flight path opposite to the direction of landing, parallel to the runway?

• A. Downwind Leg
• B. Base Leg
• C. Final Approach Leg
• D. Crosswind

Answer: (A)

In a standard fixed‑wing traffic pattern, the leg that runs parallel to the runway but in the opposite direction of landing is the downwind leg. This is the leg you fly after departing or after the initial climb, moving along the runway heading but opposite to where you’ll land, so you’re set up to turn toward the base and then final. The downwind leg is what creates the recognizable rectangular pattern around the airfield. The other legs don’t fit this description: the crosswind leg is perpendicular to the runway, the base leg connects the downwind to final and is also perpendicular to the runway, and the final approach leg is the path aligned with the runway for the landing. The upwind leg is the initial leg after takeoff, heading in the same direction as the landing direction.

In a standard fixed‑wing traffic pattern, the leg that runs parallel to the runway but in the opposite direction of landing is the downwind leg. This is the leg you fly after departing or after the initial climb, moving along the runway heading but opposite to where you’ll land, so you’re set up to turn toward the base and then final. The downwind leg is what creates the recognizable rectangular pattern around the airfield.

The other legs don’t fit this description: the crosswind leg is perpendicular to the runway, the base leg connects the downwind to final and is also perpendicular to the runway, and the final approach leg is the path aligned with the runway for the landing. The upwind leg is the initial leg after takeoff, heading in the same direction as the landing direction.