Question from a new flight student (whopping 7 hours!)

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 14:22:12 -0600, Newps wrote:

This would put you at the wrong altitude at a great deal of airports.
Doesn't causing a safety hazard bother you?

Nope.

Please don't fly in southeastern New Hampshire. Promise?


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! www.vivabush.org

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 19:52:08 GMT, zatatime
wrote:

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 12:38:52 -0600, Newps
wrote:

I'm going to 1000 feet.

This would put you at the wrong altitude at a great deal of airports.
Doesn't causing a safety hazard bother you?

z
How's that? If you look at the field elevation on the sectional, and
add 1000 feet, that's the pattern altitude isn't it? Are there lots
of airports that specify a non standard pattern altitude?

Corky Scott

Corky Scott wrote:



I'm going to 1000 feet.

This would put you at the wrong altitude at a great deal of airports.
Doesn't causing a safety hazard bother you?

z

How's that? If you look at the field elevation on the sectional, and
add 1000 feet, that's the pattern altitude isn't it? Are there lots
of airports that specify a non standard pattern altitude?

Some airports have a published pattern altitude of 800 feet.

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 15:59:38 -0400, Corky Scott
wrote:

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 19:52:08 GMT, zatatime
wrote:

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 12:38:52 -0600, Newps
wrote:

I'm going to 1000 feet.

This would put you at the wrong altitude at a great deal of airports.
Doesn't causing a safety hazard bother you?

z
How's that? If you look at the field elevation on the sectional, and
add 1000 feet, that's the pattern altitude isn't it?
Nope. Many airports (and most I fly in and out of) use an 800 foot
TPA, which is the original "standard TPA."

Are there lots
of airports that specify a non standard pattern altitude?
As I see it, yes there are. All the airports that have a 1000' TPA
are "non-standard," although the rule of thumb you have written has
become it's own standard of sorts. This is why I brought it up. If
you're flying in a Piper at 1000' thinking it is correct, and I'm
flying a Cessna at 800' which is what was published, we're going to
have a problem because we won't be able to see each other if we're in
close proximity. Also when looking for traffic, if the traffic is at
different altitudes it makes it harder to spot them. I could cite
other examples, but I think you'll get the point. There are also
airports with different altitudes for large aircraft, or opposite
traffic rules for rotorcraft, etc...


I feel fairly strongly that operations around an airport should be as
predictable as possible since this is where you will most likely find
numerous aircraft sharing close quarters. Flying a proper altitude is
one of the things that should be consistent for all traffic, and it
isn't like it's really hard to find the answer, or ask Unicom if
you're unsure.


(This may be wrong but,)I believe when a TPA is not explicitly stated
in the AF/D the expected TPA is 800' AGL.

HTH.
z

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 15:59:38 -0400, Corky Scott
wrote:

How's that? If you look at the field elevation on the sectional, and
add 1000 feet, that's the pattern altitude isn't it? Are there lots
of airports that specify a non standard pattern altitude?

Many of them, especially small ones. The airport I fly from has a
field altitude of 100 feet and a TPA of 900.

I have the essential information on 10 airports on my knee-board. On
six of them your system would be correct. The others vary from the
thousand-foot rule by anywhere from 65 feet to 200 feet.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! www.vivabush.org

"zatatime" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 12:38:52 -0600, Newps
wrote:

I'm going to 1000 feet.

This would put you at the wrong altitude at a great deal of airports.
Doesn't causing a safety hazard bother you?

It probably would bother him if it posed a safety hazard.

"Blanche" wrote in message
...
Altho I'm an AOPA member, I would *never* trust the AOPA book on
airports. There have been too many inconsistencies and wrong
entries.

The only legal and official reporter of airport information is
the AF/D.

What is legal and official about it?

Altho I'm an AOPA member, I would *never* trust the AOPA book on
airports. There have been too many inconsistencies and wrong
entries.

I've not found flight-critical information to be wrong in the AOPA book.

I *have* found, on numerous occasions, however, inaccuracies in services
provided, such as restaurants and mogas.

It's still an essential tool that goes with us on every flight.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

The airnav site is the one lacking the info I referred to.
Great site, but it's missing a few things on the airports.

I haven't quite gotten to x-ctry flights yet, but
I'm curious and love to learn about anything that
is coming up.
So, I sat down and just explored a bunch of sites and what they have.
Each one is a little different.
The knee-board from AOPA is nice, but doesn't have all freqs in use (e.g.
AWOS).
Airnav is missing something (also some things known locally at W29).
So, this is why I'm curious about insuring that I get the
best info from the best place - DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS and all.

Thanks to ALL for taking the time to follow up.

I'll keep a set of stone tablets in the back just in case . . .

I haven't quite gotten to x-ctry flights yet, but
I'm curious and love to learn about anything that
is coming up.

That's an excellent attitude.

So, I sat down and just explored a bunch of sites and what they have.
Each one is a little different.
The knee-board from AOPA is nice, but doesn't have all freqs in use (e.g.
AWOS).
Airnav is missing something (also some things known locally at W29).
So, this is why I'm curious about insuring that I get the
best info from the best place - DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS and all.

The best pre-flight (and in-flight) info is obtained from a variety of
sources.

1. Flight Service. In this age of pop-up TFRs, get a weather briefing
before each flight. While you're talking, ask about NOTAMs (Notices To
Airmen), because they'll tell you the little "surprise!" things (like a
runways that's closed for crack-sealing, that the airport manager forgot to
call in.). Don't forget to ask specifically about all TFRs.

2. Airnav is an excellent, very thorough site, run by a real GA supporter,
Paulo Santos. You will find this site more and more valuable as your
experience grows.

3. Your Sectional Chart will have most of the pertinent radio frequencies
for your flight. (Caution: Approach frequencies for center, and a lot of
the "oddball" frequencies for approach, are NOT on your sectional chart.)

As you learn more, all of this stuff becomes intuitive (really!), and you
will find that much of what you currently find essential is actually
superfluous. But that comes with experience, so -- for now -- keep getting
all your ducks in a row before each flight.

Good luck!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"