No more "Left Downwind"?

kontiki wrote in
:

Jay Honeck wrote:


What do you guys think?

I agree with the FAA. I've never added the "left" or "right" into
my radio calls *unless* I am entering the pattern in a non-standard
way. It really is redundant as according to FARs you are supposed to
be familiar with runway information at the destination airport in
advance of your flight.



Ok. On a MVFR day, someone is practicing pattern work at KWVI. The
wind favors Rwy 2, which is left hand traffic. Meanwhile, someone is
practicing the VOR/DME approach, which is circle-to-land to any runway.
The chart notes that circling is prohibited west of Rwy 2-20. So, you now
have one aircraft on left downwind to 2 and another on right downwind to 2.
Both pilots are familiar with the airport, the runway, the traffic
pattern and are both following the standard required for the approach they
are flying. Both pilots are flying a standard approach. Are you saying
that there is no value in stating "left" or "right" downwind?

--
Marty Shapiro
Silicon Rallye Inc.

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