Stupid Newbie Pattern Question

"Lakeview Bill" wrote in message
...

When you are flying to a non-towered airport, do you always have to fly
the
pattern, or can you make a straight-in or crosswind approach?

If these are permissible, under what circumstances?


The requirement is to make all turns to the left, nothing more.

In a previous article, "Steven P. McNicoll" said:
The requirement is to make all turns to the left, nothing more.

And then the AIM shows a pattern that includes a right turn (from the 45
to downwind). The FAA is consistent in its inconsistency.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"What we perceive as `God' is simply a by-product of our search for God."
- G'Kar.

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...

And then the AIM shows a pattern that includes a right turn (from the 45
to downwind). The FAA is consistent in its inconsistency.


'Zackly.

there are instances when that is not correct.. like when the local publish
in the AFD not to fly a pattern on that side for what ever reason and state
to use a right pattern to rwy xx

or when there are parallel runways and you should fly the approach to a
runway without crossing the non landing runway on base leg... that means
don't fly a left pattern and land on Runway 20R, because you crossed Rwy 20L
final course in the process

BT

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Lakeview Bill" wrote in message
...

When you are flying to a non-towered airport, do you always have to fly
the
pattern, or can you make a straight-in or crosswind approach?

If these are permissible, under what circumstances?


The requirement is to make all turns to the left, nothing more.

"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:QS9me.4927$fp.364@fed1read05...

there are instances when that is not correct.. like when the local publish
in the AFD not to fly a pattern on that side for what ever reason and
state to use a right pattern to rwy xx

or when there are parallel runways and you should fly the approach to a
runway without crossing the non landing runway on base leg... that means
don't fly a left pattern and land on Runway 20R, because you crossed Rwy
20L final course in the process


What you're trying to say is that there are locations where right traffic is
required. That is correct. At those locations the requirement is to make
all turns to the right, nothing more.

Lakeview Bill wrote:
When you are flying to a non-towered airport, do you always have to fly the
pattern, or can you make a straight-in or crosswind approach?

If these are permissible, under what circumstances?

Thanks...


I remember my examiner advocating a crosswind entry on my (private)
checkride. He preferred it because of the visibility it gave of the
runway, pattern and departing traffic.

Otherwise, there are as many opinions on the supposedly correct way to
enter the pattern as there are pilots (and as others have said, you
don't have to fly a pattern at all if you don't want to).

My personal preference is the 45 deg entry or, if the pattern is on the
other side of the runway, crossing over midfield and joining the
downwind there.

I'll do straight-ins if I"m in a hurry (i.e. need to use the bathroom),
but prefer to fly a full pattern normally. But that's just what I'm used to.

LS
N646F

If you do these, just make sure there isn't a little parachute next to the
airport symbol on the sectional. If there is, and there could be jump
activity, you should fly just on the actual track of the pattern. Never
cross the field-at any altitude.

mike

"ls" wrote in message
news
if the pattern is on the
other side of the runway, crossing over midfield and joining the downwind
there.

LS
N646F

The "final" leg at uncontrolled airports is where most air-air
collisions and near misses occur. You have potentially converging
traffic at the same altitude banking, turning and doing GUMPs checks
all in a very confined space.My strong recommendation is to avoid
straight in approaches at uncontrolled airports. it can be hard to see
the guy turning from base to final who is flying a normal pattern and
he is not too likely to see you. It may be legal to do straight
ins...but it isn't prudent.

On 30 May 2005 19:03:08 -0700, "Michael" wrote:

My strong recommendation is to avoid
straight in approaches at uncontrolled airports. it can be hard to see
the guy turning from base to final who is flying a normal pattern and
he is not too likely to see you. It may be legal to do straight
ins...but it isn't prudent.

I bought my handheld radio the day after I turned final to see myself
on collision course with a twin flying straight in at Hampton NH. (I
turned 90 degrees for a bit, then followed him in.)

I hadn't seen him, he hadn't seen me. Afterward he said: "Don't you
have a radio in that thing?" (It was a J-3 Cub.)

He was an instructor! He had a student flying the plane! It was his
first-ever visit to this grass field which is flagged "intensive
flight training"!

As you say: legal but not prudent. Indeed, I would call it stupid.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net
In Search of Lost Time: www.readingproust.com

Cub Driver wrote:


I bought my handheld radio the day after I turned final to see myself
on collision course with a twin flying straight in at Hampton NH. (I
turned 90 degrees for a bit, then followed him in.)

I'm confused. He was flying to the reciprocal runway? If you turned
final and were on a collision course with a straight in for the same
runway sounds like you were at fault.