Reporter stated a student pilot had mistakenly flown in a standard left pattern at a non-towered airport that followed a non-standard right pattern and nearly had a midair collision. The reporter also noted that the segmented circle is hard to see and the paint for the lead-in markings to the runway is faded.

Narrative

Pattern bias: Pun intended. A recent debrief from an instructional flight once again identified a known hazard; the midair collision risk associated with non-standard patterns at non-towered airports or closed Tower operations. The student pilot was on the second or third private pilot instructional flight and did not notice the right pattern (RP) markings on the VFR sectional for SFQ. The information in the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) was also missed. The CFI let the student know about the mistake but not before the aircraft came close enough to the field that other aircraft operating in the area began to make corrective calls about the runway and proper pattern in use; which also generated a call from someone at the airport on UNICOM.The pattern bias of standard left hand patterns with no chart marking or A/FD note is strong; and since LP or left pattern is not marked; it can become habit to look at the sectional without seeing; as there are not many patterns in our flight training area that are RP. Another hazard is that there is a note that the segmented circle is hard to see. Why have it if it can't be seen? Who do we call to get the ball rolling for some paint? And there is faded paint for lead-in markings to Runway 7. It has been a hazard so long that it has made its way into the A/FD.This is a midair collision hazard that appears infrequently but consequence can be catastrophic. It would be great if NASA ASRS would generate a safety bulletin or announcement to go out immediately to the email list; reminding folks of the lurking nature of RPs. SFQ could be used as the example; a mix of student operations; GA; commercial; helicopters and to make things even more fun; a parachute jumping area. Learning lesson graphics to go with the bulletin could be the VFR sectional and info from the A/FD. This safety bulletin would be in support of Mid-Air Collision Avoidance (MACA) initiatives; and a timely bit of refresher training as spring time flying starts to pick up.