On 2007-05-15, Larry Dighera wrote:
Perhaps I'm missing something here, but I don't see the issue you
apparently do with a faster aircraft trailing a slower one on
downwind. There's no need for the slower one in front to feel any
pressure to rush at all. In fact it's doubtful that the pilot of the
slower aircraft is even aware of the speed of the aircraft behind him.

Only if they are a NORDO. If both aircraft are radio equipped, it
becomes very apparent if an aircraft behind is catching up on you
quickly from how much closer the position calls are getting to your
actual position.

Most pilots at that stage in the slower aircraft (PARTICULARLY student
pilots, who are likely to be in slower aircraft) will begin to get
anxious that an aircraft they can't see that's behind them, is catching
up on them quickly, and apparently making no allowances for them - have
they seen me? Have they heard my position announcements? Where exactly
are they?

It's probably not a big deal if no one else is in the circuit. But when
it's a fairly busy non-towered field with three or four student pilots
fighting with the crosswind - and then someone comes hurtling into the
pattern on a straight in, doing 120 knots, then I submit it's a bit
discourteous at the very least (especially when nearly every single,
even a hot one, will happily fly much more slowly and nicely slot in
with the prevailing traffic speed without making anyone anxious about
being run over).

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