On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 21:08:42 GMT, wrote:

Consider you're NE of the airfield, non towered airport, runway 18/36,
standard left pattern applies, with runway 36 the active. I'm
interested in hearing what your personal method of joining the pattern
would be, while adhering to the FAR's and AIM.

Stan,

ASSUMING IFR conditions (900 ft ceilings at my airport), I would descend
quick as I can to MDA, I then would cross midfield, turn left for downwind
and circle to land on 36.

To go out 5 miles for a straight in, you run the risk of losing the runway
environment should visibility be lower then VFR minimums.

Allen