Joining the circuit
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, EU
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The crosswind join is perhaps the worst choice
ATC won't permit it if it causes a problem of course ... but even so they did once hold jet on the runway until I'd got clear.
Wow I didn't know that the "standard" overhead joining procedure was so... different between countries.
In NZ its not 1000' above circuit height, its 500'. And the number of orbits above the circuit the pilot makes is not defined. The idea being that you circle above the circuit until you have adequate situational awareness of whats going on below before you commence your join. If you approach from the deadside, you make at least a 180 degree turn before starting your descent.
In NZ its not 1000' above circuit height, its 500'. And the number of orbits above the circuit the pilot makes is not defined. The idea being that you circle above the circuit until you have adequate situational awareness of whats going on below before you commence your join. If you approach from the deadside, you make at least a 180 degree turn before starting your descent.
I know its legal, I know sky gods can pull it off BUT, the one that sets my teeth on edge is a right base join in a left hand circuit that is in use and is used pretty constantly by student pilots.
Flight in the vicinity of an aerodrome
12 (1) Subject to paragraph (2), a flying machine, glider or airship flying in the vicinity of what
the commander of the aircraft knows, or ought reasonably to know, to be an
aerodrome shall:
(a) conform to the pattern of traffic formed by other aircraft intending to land at that
aerodrome or keep clear of the airspace in which the pattern is formed; and
(b) make all turns to the left unless ground signals otherwise indicate.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the air traffic control unit at that aerodrome otherwise
authorises.
12 (1) Subject to paragraph (2), a flying machine, glider or airship flying in the vicinity of what
the commander of the aircraft knows, or ought reasonably to know, to be an
aerodrome shall:
(a) conform to the pattern of traffic formed by other aircraft intending to land at that
aerodrome or keep clear of the airspace in which the pattern is formed; and
(b) make all turns to the left unless ground signals otherwise indicate.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the air traffic control unit at that aerodrome otherwise
authorises.
One of the problems is that the only published procedure for a standard overhead join depicts the aircraft approaching from the live side of the airfield. Exactly what the sequence of events should be if approaching from the dead side is undefined.
The live side is where the procedure begins, therefore you put yourself on the live side to commence the procedure. You can go around in the overhead in accordance with Rule 12 as many times as you like before commencing the procedure and whilst trying to fathom out the content of the signal square and work out where you are going to go. An "overhead join" commenced on the Dead side is actually a Crosswind Join because you are not complying with the Standard procedure and the place you join the circuit is on the Crosswind leg.
But I do feel that in a warming world of £2 Avgas, flying around in circles more than absolutely necessary is something of a waste.
