how would you enter this pattern?

Given that you fly the midfield crossover at pattern
altitude + 500 feet this shouldn't be an issue...

But I don't! We fly the crossover at TPA. That's what
I do, and that's what I've seen dozens of other pilots do.

Otherwise you are descending onto the downwind, which
my instructor says is a no-no. Do everything in or near the
pattern at TPA, says he.

(I missed the earlier part of the thread so this may be dup), but I too do
all my maneuvering at +500 or more above the pattern. Especially if I'm
nordo or get nothing on the unicom. Then I usually like to come in and peak
at the sock, and maybe do a few orbits to look the field over. Or when I'm
coming from opposite side of the pattern. In all cases, when I've finished
looking, I proceed outbound perpendicular to the downwind at +500. And about
a mile from the downwind I will initiate a descending right turn (225deg)
ending at TPA on the 1 mile 45 to the downwind. I've always preferred this
as I get to loiter above the TPA for as long as I need, and then the big
turn onto the 45 becomes a giant clearing turn.

I've seen others inbound from the opposite side, crossing midfield at TPA
and joining the downwind with a left hand turn. That works for them, but I
never liked it because I've seen it bunch up the downwind.

One thing for sure, in the years I've been flying this (entering the
downwind from opposite side) has been the most discussed issue without ever
being resolved.

I have to respectfully disagree with this.

Overhead the field at 500+ TPA, the entire downwind leg is sprawled
before you and all traffic should be self evident. insert yourself
appropriately. This provides for a healthy separation if, say NORDO,
you find that there are no safe spots in the pattern and you must
abort to make another pattern entry attempt.

That said, my home field (towered) field has me call overhead at 500+
tpa and then drop into downwind... so its possible that I've just been
re-enforcing a bad habit.

-Scott



On Apr 10, 3:09 pm, Cubdriver usenet AT danford DOT net wrote:
On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:35:41 GMT, "Bill Denton"

wrote:
"midfield crossover for 14 again puts me crossing the downwind leg for 10"

Given that you fly the midfield crossover at pattern altitude + 500 feet
this shouldn't be an issue...

But I don't! We fly the crossover at TPA. That's what I do, and that's
what I've seen dozens of other pilots do.

Otherwise you are descending onto the downwind, which my instructor
says is a no-no. Do everything in or near the pattern at TPA, says he.

Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
new from HarperCollinswww.FlyingTigersBook.com

On Apr 11, 10:09*am, Cubdriver usenet AT danford DOT net wrote:
On Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:35:41 GMT, "Bill Denton"

wrote:
"midfield crossover for 14 again puts me crossing the downwind leg for 10"

Given that you fly the midfield crossover at pattern altitude + 500 feet
this shouldn't be an issue...

But I don't! We fly the crossover at TPA. That's what I do, and that's
what I've seen dozens of other pilots do.

Otherwise you are descending onto the downwind, which my instructor
says is a no-no. Do everything in or near the pattern at TPA, says he.

Blue skies! -- Dan Ford


Ever heard of a standard overhead joining proceedure?

Cheers

"Mike Isaksen" wrote in
news:ZPALj.5357$mL2.4155@trndny03:


Given that you fly the midfield crossover at pattern
altitude + 500 feet this shouldn't be an issue...

But I don't! We fly the crossover at TPA. That's what
I do, and that's what I've seen dozens of other pilots do.

Otherwise you are descending onto the downwind, which
my instructor says is a no-no. Do everything in or near the
pattern at TPA, says he.

(I missed the earlier part of the thread so this may be dup), but I
too do all my maneuvering at +500 or more above the pattern.
Especially if I'm nordo or get nothing on the unicom. Then I usually
like to come in and peak at the sock, and maybe do a few orbits to
look the field over. Or when I'm coming from opposite side of the
pattern. In all cases, when I've finished looking, I proceed outbound
perpendicular to the downwind at +500. And about a mile from the
downwind I will initiate a descending right turn (225deg) ending at
TPA on the 1 mile 45 to the downwind. I've always preferred this as I
get to loiter above the TPA for as long as I need, and then the big
turn onto the 45 becomes a giant clearing turn.

I've seen others inbound from the opposite side, crossing midfield at
TPA and joining the downwind with a left hand turn. That works for
them, but I never liked it because I've seen it bunch up the downwind.

One thing for sure, in the years I've been flying this (entering the
downwind from opposite side) has been the most discussed issue without
ever being resolved.




Well, AFAIK it's the standard, especially for non radio operations.

Bertie

I too do
all my maneuvering at +500 or more above the pattern. Especially if I'm
nordo or get nothing on the unicom. Then I usually like to come in and peak
at the sock, and maybe do a few orbits to look the field over. Or when I'm
coming from opposite side of the pattern. In all cases, when I've finished
looking, I proceed outbound perpendicular to the downwind at +500. And about
a mile from the downwind I will initiate a descending right turn (225deg)
ending at TPA on the 1 mile 45 to the downwind. I've always preferred this
as I get to loiter above the TPA for as long as I need, and then the big
turn onto the 45 becomes a giant clearing turn.

Okay, I misunderstood the earlier post. I'd call that overflying the
field, and going off a mile or so before descending is pretty much the
FAA way. (Wouldn't it be nice if the FAA, when not obsessing about
whether cable ties are one inch apart or an inch and a quarter, would
actually give some concrete guidance on this quesiton?)

I've seen others inbound from the opposite side, crossing midfield at TPA
and joining the downwind with a left hand turn. That works for them, but I
never liked it because I've seen it bunch up the downwind.

We never did it either, and the first time I saw someone do it, I was
so spooked that I flew off for fifteen minutes or so until I was sure
he was landed or gone from the pattern. But after 9/11 we were told
never to go near, or fly in the direction of, the nuclear power plant
to our south. So entering the pattern from the west, regardless of
whether the wind was from north or south, became an accepted
alternative.

I rather like it. Entering from the "wrong" side seems to give me a
better picture of the pattern, and for example if somebody turns out
to be staying in the pattern for another landing, I can just make a
right turn on the upwind and follow him around. But I wouldn't do this
at another airport for fear the locals think otherwise.

One thing for sure, in the years I've been flying this (entering the
downwind from opposite side) has been the most discussed issue without ever
being resolved.


Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com

Okay, I finally got down to Plum Island yesterday, and guess what? The
wind (such as it was) was the summertime variety out of the NW, so I
landed on 32 after all.

And the radio worked. Perhaps last week there was somebody out there
with a stuck mike. (It was only the first time I'd flown the Cub with
the "new" engine; I assumed it was ignition noise that caused the
squeal when I tried to transmit.)

Thanks, everyone. Of all the suggestions for 14, I like the extended
left base the best. I'd overfly the runway heading SE, then make a
long left turn and descend to TPA perpendicular to 14, i.e.heading 230
degrees. Sounds like a plan!


Blue skies! -- Dan Ford

Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942
new from HarperCollins www.FlyingTigersBook.com