left downwind, right downwind?

[touchandgo1957]

They say ignorance is lack of knowledge, so I am ignorant, not stupid, (well, maybe a little) but I did ask this question several months ago and I still need help.
EXAMPLE: enter a left downwind, is the airport on your left as you are flying, or is the plane on the airports left as you enter the airspace? Does this make sense?

[twominuteturn]

a left downwind approach means that: as you are flying downwind (parallel) to the runway, the airport should be on YOUR left.

[stweaver321]

Best way to remember this is to ask yourself, "which way do I have to turn to enter base leg?" If you have to turn left to enter the base leg, then you're in a left downwind and if you have to turn right to enter the base leg, then you're in a right downwind.

This same reasoning applies when calling your base. If you have to turn left to enter final, then you're on a left base and...you get the point.

Direction of turn to the next leg determines if you are right or left on your current leg.

[David7700]

In the pattern, flying left traffic means you are making all left turns. Right traffic means all right turns. Took me a while to figure that out.

[touchandgo1957]

Great! Thanks all of you who answered. I FINALLY got it Whew!!!!!! What a bunch of great guy's!!