Are 360-Degree Turns Required at a Nontowered Airport Before Takeoff?

There are nearly 20,000 nontowered airports in the U.S. [Credit: Julie Boatman]

Question: Is it a rule that you must do a 360-degree turn on the ground before you get onto the runway at a nontowered airport? I'm a student pilot and have just made the switch from flying at a towered airport to a nontowered airport, and I see a lot of the pilots do this in the run-up area.

Answer: What you are seeing is a 360-degree clearing turn on the ground that allows the pilot to scan the pattern before takeoff. Sometimes called a "safety turn," it helps with "see and avoid," which is an FAA rule.

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If there is room to do the turn on the ground, it is good practice, especially if there are trouble spots in the pattern, like a stand of trees or tall buildings that can obstruct your view, or if your aircraft is positioned so that the downwind leg is behind you. If you missed a radio call or one wasn't made by that pilot who turned downwind to base (they may not have a radio), you'll be glad you did that turn.

ask flying FAA nontowered airport

Meg GodlewskiAuthor

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.