Questions on landing at a towered airport

On Nov 28, 4:03 am, "Tman" N/A wrote:
I should know the answers to these, but have gotten some conflicting
opinions without much authoritative reference, so wouldn't mind some more
from this NG .

Conflicting opinions are my specialty.

When approaching a towered airport (Class D), suppose I am told a few miles
out "report a 3-mile right base, runway 23"... as often happens.

The thing to do in this situation is to READBACK a base to the runway
closest to your ramp. The controller will correct you but keep reading
back your prefered runway and (out of exaserbation) he will just let
you do what you want.

* Now when i am there, and report a 3-mile right base, if he tells me
"cleared to land, runway 23, you're #1", is that a hint or OK to dispense
with a squared off pattern, and make straight for the numbers, as reasonably
as I can manage in terms of flying the airplane safely?

This is a hint to turn to the downwind and extend it out so far that
the student pilot in the 150 behind you is logging cross country time.

* Do I really need to plan my descent so that I am TPA when reporting the
3-mile right base? I Really do not want to be. I'd rather be 2000 AGL,
which will give me a comfortable (but a little aggressive) descent

Plan the decent to be at full flaps top of the white arc and power off
every time. This doesnt do much for proficency but it gives your
passengers a heck of a thrill ride.


* Lastly, I've never flown into a Class C (or Class B) airport, but have a
fair amount of experience at Class D fields.

B, D and C is pretty much all the same. A few things to remember if
ATC gives you a number to call, First, deny everything. Second, make
counter accusations. And third, demand an apology. Be polite but
insistant.


The two things I have heard is a)
don't expect to be reporting points on the pattern, you'll probably get
vectored to a final approach course (and that sounds easier), and b) brush
up on what you need to do for wake turbulence avoidance, since that will be
more probable....

I dont think your plane is going to generate enough wake turbulence to
be a problem, so dont worry about it.

F Baum