No more "Left Downwind"?

In article .com,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

In his opinion (and, apparently, the FAA's), saying "left downwind" is
redundant, since everyone should know that the pattern is left (or
right, if appropriate) hand traffic. In high traffic areas, the FAA
thinks that omitting this single word will open the over-crowded unicom
frequencies so that other pilots can squeeze a word in.

Mary and I (and several other pilots) kept quiet during the
presentation, but strongly disagree with him on this topic. IMHO,
saying "left downwind" is clear, concise, and -- most importantly --
clarifies which side of the airport you're on. To assume that everyone
knows whether the pattern is left (or right) is, in my experience,
naive.

What do you guys think?

He's an idiot if he thinks omitting "left" will make any difference.

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

IMHO,
saying "left downwind" is clear, concise, and -- most importantly --
clarifies which side of the airport you're on.

I agree 100%, and would not have kept my mouth shut. Aircraft may be
low and near the airport (say, overflying) with no intent to land, yet
availing themselves of their freedom to fly in class E and G airspace,
and be listening for calls over the umpty ump airports they are flying
over. The idea that they've memorized the traffic patterns of all these
airports is ludicrous. "All available information" may even be there in
the cockpit, but it is =far= better to hear "Left downwind for 26..."
which instantly creates situational awareness, rather than "Downwind for
26..." (ohmygod, is that the one with right traffic? They said Bumee
airport, I'm over Littlefield County but they have a runway 26, maybe
that's a local name for it?...)

The extra syllable here and there is a way for people to be anal about
radio work. The real problem isn't "with you" or "left" or "looking",
but rather the windbags that take two minutes to say anything because
they haven't a clue.

Jose
--
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Probably doesn't like pitot tube or empenage either....:-)

On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 02:02:12 GMT, Jose
wrote:

The real problem isn't "with you" or "left" or "looking",
but rather the windbags that take two minutes to say anything because
they haven't a clue.

"Jeff--is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"How ya doing?"

"Okay, I guess."

(Heard on a holiday weekend.)

Cubdriver wrote:
On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 02:02:12 GMT, Jose
wrote:

The real problem isn't "with you" or "left" or "looking",
but rather the windbags that take two minutes to say anything because
they haven't a clue.

"Jeff--is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"How ya doing?"

"Okay, I guess."

(Heard on a holiday weekend.)

The above is why I avoid small uncontrolled airports on the weekends.

On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 08:49:08 -0500, Emily
wrote:
The above is why I avoid small uncontrolled airports on the weekends.

Yeah, we wouldn't want to actually go someplace that was actually
*friendly*, would we? snicker

"Grumman-581" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 08:49:08 -0500, Emily
wrote:
The above is why I avoid small uncontrolled airports on the weekends.

Yeah, we wouldn't want to actually go someplace that was actually
*friendly*, would we? snicker

Of course, traffic at some uncontrolled airports look like film footage from
"The Batter of Britain". :~)

Grumman-581 wrote:
On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 08:49:08 -0500, Emily
wrote:
The above is why I avoid small uncontrolled airports on the weekends.

Yeah, we wouldn't want to actually go someplace that was actually
*friendly*, would we? snicker

ADS is pretty damn friendly, and the busyness keeps away a lot of idiots.

Why? That is where all the pilots (and hence all the fun is)...

Speaking of clogging up the frequency... I was 15 out from Nappanee
(C02) Indiana trying to announce my arrival when I hear someone on the
frequency describing to someone else, what they did the previous
weekend, in minute detail... I swear the frequency was taking up by this
guy for 5 minutes straight... When he finished his diatribe I barely had
the time to announce my plans...

That was the first time I have ever heard this kind of frequency robbing
inconsiderateness... I swear it was like listening to some ham radio
operator with a bad case of verbal diarrhea...

Jon Kraus
'79 Mooney 201
4443H @ UMP

Emily wrote:
Cubdriver wrote:

On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 02:02:12 GMT, Jose
wrote:

The real problem isn't "with you" or "left" or "looking", but rather
the windbags that take two minutes to say anything because they
haven't a clue.


"Jeff--is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"How ya doing?"

"Okay, I guess."

(Heard on a holiday weekend.)


The above is why I avoid small uncontrolled airports on the weekends.

That was the first time I have ever heard this kind of frequency robbing
inconsiderateness... I swear it was like listening to some ham radio
operator with a bad case of verbal diarrhea...

We heard a lot of that on our flight into OSH this year.

The worst (thankfully, on an air-to-air frequency) was when a woman was
READING THE OSHKOSH NOTAM to another pilot, apparently flying with her
as a flight of two.

We were incredulous...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"