"Bill Denton" wrote:

14 CFR Section 91.126 does not
prohibit 45 degree pattern entries. When you are on the 45 degree entry, you
are not in the traffic pattern

This is probably true, at least as the "traffic pattern" is
defined in the AIM.

; therefore, a right turn to downwind is not
violating 91.126.

But this does not follow. 91.126 says you have to turn left
when "approaching to land," not when you're in the traffic
pattern. It sure looks like a pilot flying a 45 leg
directly towards the airport runway is "approaching" the
airport with the intent "to land."

The FSDO's comments are interesting, but certainly not
unexpected. They know that the Chief Counsel handles
interpreting the FAR's. Unless he tells them otherwise,
they can only repeat what the FAA officially recommends (45
entry) and ignore the FAR that "seems" to make that
recommendation illegal.

Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
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