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

Cub Driver wrote:

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 20:42:49 -0600, Newps wrote:


It is not uncommon for others to enter just like me except they will
then make a right turn(approax 45 degrees) and fly away from the pattern
on a southwesterly heading, into the face of other traffic entering on
the 45, fly out a couple miles and then do a 180 for the sole purpose of
entering the pattern on the 45. These people are nuts


Yes, they are. But so are you, declaring that "nope" it doesn't bother
you that you may create a hazard by flyiing at a non-standard altitude
in the pattern.

Oh please. There's 800 foot patterns, 1000 foot patterns and all
numbers in between so they can be a round number(My airport TPA is 851
feet). Now you fly to West Nowhere Muni where the nearest altimeter
setting is 100 miles away. Nobody is at the same altitude even if they
all agreed to the same pattern altitude. I work at a towered field and
see everyday that pattern altitudes vary. 800, 900, 1000, it's like
worrying if your tire has 30 or 31 psi.

"Newps" wrote in message
...


Cub Driver wrote:

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 20:42:49 -0600, Newps wrote:


It is not uncommon for others to enter just like me except they will
then make a right turn(approax 45 degrees) and fly away from the pattern
on a southwesterly heading, into the face of other traffic entering on
the 45, fly out a couple miles and then do a 180 for the sole purpose of
entering the pattern on the 45. These people are nuts


Yes, they are. But so are you, declaring that "nope" it doesn't bother
you that you may create a hazard by flyiing at a non-standard altitude
in the pattern.

Oh please. There's 800 foot patterns, 1000 foot patterns and all
numbers in between so they can be a round number(My airport TPA is 851
feet). Now you fly to West Nowhere Muni where the nearest altimeter
setting is 100 miles away. Nobody is at the same altitude even if they
all agreed to the same pattern altitude. I work at a towered field and
see everyday that pattern altitudes vary. 800, 900, 1000, it's like
worrying if your tire has 30 or 31 psi.


My guess is if you were to ask 10 pilots what the TPA is at their home
airport you would get at least 8 different answers.

Dave Stadt wrote:

My guess is if you were to ask 10 pilots what the TPA is at their home
airport you would get at least 8 different answers.

In addition, you would not be amazed at the number of pilots who "turn
in the pattern" at 500' AGL after takeoff! Why? "Because their
instructor taught them to turn at 500'"! This, at an airport with a
1000' pattern published (also the FAA default pattern).

Still, many pilots and instructors don't see the problem... The AIM
says that you may turn from the departure leg when "within 300 feet of
the pattern altitude". So, for an 800' pattern, 500' AGL is the
correct minimum altitude to turn. However, for a 1000' pattern, 800'
AGL is the correct minimum altitude to turn... when remaining in the
pattern.

You may find this in the AIM, in the descrption of landing patterns,
below the PICTURE/DIAGRAM, not in the regular text.

Best regards,

Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard

--
Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO
CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jer'at'frii.com WEB http://users.frii.com/jer/
C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider, FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor
CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot, BM218 HAM N0FZD, 218 Young Eagles!

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:19:53 -0600, Newps
wrote:

Why would you leave the pattern to perform a 45 entry?

You're kidding right? You would not believe what some people go thru to
go out and get back on that 45.


No, I'm really not. If you're in the pattern, fly a square. Why
leave to come back?

z