In the absence of a control tower, what pattern should a pilot maintain when ready to land in Class G airspace?

When a pilot is preparing to land in Class G airspace and there is no control tower, the standard practice is to fly a left-hand traffic pattern. This is because most airports are designed with left-hand traffic as the preferred method, following common aviation conventions. The left-hand pattern allows pilots to maintain better visual awareness of other traffic and helps to create a more organized flow of aircraft entering and exiting the runway.

In a left-hand traffic pattern, the pilot will make left turns during the approach, which keeps the airport in sight and allows better situational awareness. This standardization is critical in uncontrolled airspace where the absence of a control tower means that pilots need to rely on visual separation and predictability to enhance safety.

While some airports may have specific right-hand patterns, the default assumption when no local procedures are noted is to fly left-hand traffic. Therefore, adhering to this practice supports safe operations and reduces the risk of mid-air collisions, especially in proximity to other aircraft that may be unaware of each other's intentions.