Not every approach is an instrument arrival. Air Traffic Control may tell the pilot to fly a circuit. Normally Circuits are Left hand unless advised otherwise. A problem occurs as the pilots cannot look back to see the airfield in the late downwind leg. The pilots adopt the following procedure as diagrammed above. The pilot starts the stop watch as the cockpit side window passes the approach threshold of the runway. They fly at 170 knots flap 5 for 45 seconds and then commence a turn to base leg and then final.
The circuit height is normally 1500 ft above the airfield. Ideally the downwind leg should be flown about 2 to three miles away from the airfield so that a turn does not take you through the centre line as you turn onto final from base leg.
Landing
If you approach too fast the aircraft will bounce or float along the runway or even climb away again. If you are flying to slow the aircraft may stall. Especially with a large angle of bank on. Watch your airspeed and get it correct. A good landing comes only from making a good approach.
Finally
Ideally your approach speed should be about 150 knots for most aircraft and touch down with a slight pitch up just above stall speed so the aircraft settles. Further help on rate of descents is given in the climb gradient lecture. Land on the body wheels first keep the nosewheel off the ground