Steven, thanks for the reply. Assuming you're vfr, and not off an ifr
approach, are your suggesting to proceed southwest at pattern altitude
and join downwind with a 45 degree or so left turn?
after all, all turns to the left when approaching to land!
Just looking for some ideas on what considered acceptable.

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 21:56:06 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .

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.

I've two thoughts:

Fly south, then west, pass overhead the field, and then 2 or 3 miles
later do a descending 225 degree right turn, and join on a 45 degree
to downwind, or

Stay east and then south of the airport, and join a straight in
outside 5 sm.

Opinions?


Head southwest and enter left downwind.