approaches---pattern

[esbolico]

when i am doing an ifr flight and i am near the airport atc says me something like "go down left wind " and the number of the runway. i do not understand that. can somebody explain it to me
thanks

the atc tell me sometimes to do a pattern. what is that?? and how to do it,
thanks

[Craig.]

the traffic pattern is what you fly, if the tower says fly left downwind, that means your turns to the runway will be to the left, downwind is the leg where you fly parralel to the runway.
the differant terms are. Crosswind(your first turn after takeoff)
downwind(flying parralel to the runway) second turn.
your third turn is base as you turn to head towards the runway.
and the final turn is final, where you should be lining up with the runway.
Someone else can make it clearer. but i beleive that is correct

[Poseidon]

To make it even simper consider you want to land on runway 9 (bearing 90 degrees) or takeoff from runway 9:

Left pattern (all turns are to the left)
----------------------------------------------
Upwind: Flying on course 90
Crosswind: Flying on course 360
Downwind: Flying on course 270
Base: Flying on course 180


Right pattern (all turns are right)
-----------------------------------------
Upwind: Flying on course 90
Crosswind: Flying on course 180
Downwind: Flying on course 270
Base: Flying on course 360

I suggest that you also have a look in the ground school pdf which comes with the FS CDs where you can find the related information as well as comprehensible pictures.