"Bob Gardner" wrote:
Then flying away from the pattern and descending to pattern altitude
well away from the pattern is the safest solution to the problem you
posed.

What's the point of that? That requires more turns at low altitude near
an airport, increasing collision exposure.

Join the pattern as expeditiously as possible (always following
right-of-way rules) and get it on the ground.

Crossing midfield at pattern altitude gives a good view of the pattern
and the windsock and sets you up for an simple turn to the downwind.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM