What is the difference between the Goliad break altitude and the pattern altitude?

What is the difference between the Goliad break altitude and the pattern altitude?

• A. 100 feet
• B. 0 feet
• C. 200 feet
• D. 150 feet

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is that the Goliad break altitude is set a fixed amount above the standard pattern altitude to give you enough room to execute the break and still rejoin the pattern safely. Specifically, the Goliad break altitude is 200 feet higher than the pattern altitude. This extra height provides clearance for the climbing or turning maneuver of the break and ensures you can descend back to the pattern altitude at the right point to reenter the pattern smoothly. So the difference is 200 feet, meaning the break is initiated 200 feet above the pattern altitude.

The key idea here is that the Goliad break altitude is set a fixed amount above the standard pattern altitude to give you enough room to execute the break and still rejoin the pattern safely. Specifically, the Goliad break altitude is 200 feet higher than the pattern altitude. This extra height provides clearance for the climbing or turning maneuver of the break and ensures you can descend back to the pattern altitude at the right point to reenter the pattern smoothly. So the difference is 200 feet, meaning the break is initiated 200 feet above the pattern altitude.