At what altitude is the standard traffic pattern generally flown by light manned aircraft?

The standard traffic pattern for light manned aircraft is flown at 1,000 feet above ground level, and that figure defines the vertical band a remote pilot must think about near any airport. Part 107 caps unmanned operations at 400 feet AGL, so there is nominally 600 feet of separation — but the pattern is only level at pattern altitude on the downwind leg. Aircraft descend through the whole band on base and final, and climb through it after takeoff, so the protected margin exists only away from the approach and departure paths. Larger and turbine aircraft fly the pattern higher, commonly 1,500 feet AGL, while helicopters often operate lower and off the fixed-wing pattern entirely. Knowing the geometry lets a remote pilot pick a site and an altitude that keeps clear of where manned aircraft actually descend, which is a more useful discipline than relying on the 400-foot ceiling as though it guaranteed separation.

Light manned aircraft fly the standard traffic pattern at 1,000 feet above ground level, which sits above the 400-foot Part 107 ceiling but is descended through on base and final.

The standard traffic pattern for light aircraft is 1,000 feet AGL, with larger and turbine aircraft commonly at 1,500 feet AGL. Aircraft descend through lower altitudes on base and final and climb through them after takeoff.

A Thousand Feet, But Not on Final. The margin above 400 disappears wherever aircraft are descending.

Helicopters often operate below the fixed-wing pattern and off it entirely, so pattern geometry does not predict where they will be.

• •Treating the 400-foot ceiling as guaranteed separation
• •Referencing pattern altitude to MSL rather than airport elevation
• •Ignoring approach and departure paths when choosing a site