What is the downwind leg in a standard traffic pattern?

What is the downwind leg in a standard traffic pattern?

• A. A flight path at right angles to the landing runway off its approach end and extending from the downwind leg to the intersection of the extended runway centerline.
• B. A flight path in the direction of landing along the extended runway centerline from the base leg to the runway.
• C. The flight path which begins after takeoff and continues straight ahead along the extended runway centerline.
• D. A flight path parallel to the landing runway in the opposite direction of landing.

Answer: (D)

In a standard rectangular traffic pattern, the downwind leg is the flight path that runs parallel to the landing runway but in the opposite direction from landing. You fly on the side of the runway as you move away from the approach end, preparing for the turns to base and then final. This contrasts with the crosswind leg, which is a 90-degree leg off the upwind, and with the base and final legs, which align with the runway centerline for final approach.

In a standard rectangular traffic pattern, the downwind leg is the flight path that runs parallel to the landing runway but in the opposite direction from landing. You fly on the side of the runway as you move away from the approach end, preparing for the turns to base and then final. This contrasts with the crosswind leg, which is a 90-degree leg off the upwind, and with the base and final legs, which align with the runway centerline for final approach.