Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
"Mark T. Dame" wrote in message
...
That's the key, the way I read it. Traffic flying the full recommended
pattern has the right of way of traffic not flying the full pattern. That
includes those making base leg entries, straight into downwind entries,
and straight in approaches (both visual and instrument, be it practice or
actual). (All of that assumes the airport is above the VFR minimums. If
it isn't, then IFR rules apply and "right of way" is theoretically a
non-issue because ATC handle sequencing the departures and arrivals.)

The airport can be above VFR minimums but still require an instrument
approach, imagine good visibility under a low overcast. What's an arriving
IFR aircraft supposed to do if he's still in cloud at the circling MDA and
there are VFR aircraft in the pattern?

While I suppose that's possible, to be VFR, the ceiling at the airport
should be at least a 1,000' (500' above the ground and 500' below the
clouds). All the non-precision approaches I'm familiar with have an MDA
lower than that.


Finally, there is no FAR one way or the other. Just the AC and the ASF
publication. Bottom line: the traffic pattern is no place for a ****ing
contest. Just be courteous to those around you and pay attention for
those who aren't.

FAR 91.113(g) does not exist? Where the hell do you get your information?

FAR 91.113(g) only says that the aircraft on final has the right of way.
It doesn't say anything about the pattern. It also doesn't say
anything about other aircraft having to wait for a guy on a ten mile
final to land before they can.

Look at it this way. If you are in a car at a stop sign at an
intersection. The crossing street has no stop sign. Cars on the
crossing street have the right of way over cars at the stop sign. If
you see a car coming a half a mile away, you don't have to wait for him.
If he's 100' away, you do.

Right of way only comes into play for conflict resolution. If there is
no conflict, there's no right of way decision to make.


-m
--
## Mark T. Dame
## CP-ASEL, AGI
## insert tail number here
## KHAO, KISZ
"A brute force solution that works is better than an elegant
solution that doesn't work."