Can Civilian GA aircraft do the overhead approach / break ?

[wickedsprint]

This form of pattern seems a lot more efficient, are we allowed to do it? If we ask for it at a towered field will they even allow it..I assume at an untowered you can probably do whatever you want if noone else is present...

[DeltaRomeo]

Originally Posted by wickedsprint

This form of pattern seems a lot more efficient, are we allowed to do it? If we ask for it at a towered field will they even allow it..I assume at an untowered you can probably do whatever you want if noone else is present...

Yes.
Yes (most of the time).

Open for debate with a lot of folks, however (one of the never ending debate topics actually). I do it all the time at my home field (52F), but if there are other planes in the pattern I usually don't. Going into an unfamiliar field I do standard arrival.

Trivia: I've been given the overhead option at Waco when the President was less than ten miles away (been there enough that they know my plane). "Welcome back, cleared to land using the overhead break runway 19."

[LifeofReiley]

I believe the overhead is the only pattern entry we use at T74...

[gasman]

Originally Posted by DeltaRomeo

Yes.
Yes (most of the time).

Trivia: I've been given the overhead option at Waco when the President was less than ten miles away (been there enough that they know my plane). "Welcome back, cleared to land using the overhead break runway 19."

DEAR DR.......... Would you walk us (maybe only me) through an overhead break?.....................

Thanks.

[Hwood]

Just be careful, you NEVER know who is watching and might have a beef with it. Last week I was given permission for an overhead break by tower, with conflicting traffic landing on a crossing runway. The traffic was going to be clear of the intersection before my landing until he turns off of HIS runway and on to MINE! Tower sends me around...no problem here.....tells me to reenter the pattern.....still no problem, and after landing asks me to call the tower....big problem.

The tower supervisor proceeded to chew my butt and said I was a danger to general aviation. When I asked him to explain, he merely said that if I needed explaining, then perhaps the local FISDO should do it for him. No thanks, you're right, I'm wrong. I'll never do it again, I'm sorry, thanks for the caution, now excuse me while I go puke!

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by gasman

(maybe only me)
Thanks.

No me too, never have understood what this is....

[RV7Factory]

Originally Posted by Hwood

...The tower supervisor proceeded to chew my butt and said I was a danger to general aviation. When I asked him to explain, he merely said that if I needed explaining, then perhaps the local FISDO should do it for him. No thanks, you're right, I'm wrong. I'll never do it again, I'm sorry, thanks for the caution, now excuse me while I go puke!

This is amazing and just goes to show you how different things can be regionally. Here in Livermore we have a lot of warbird activity (T-6s, P-51s, T-28s, etc.), and it seems like all I ever see them do is the overhead break. In fact the Air Combat USA guys are in town now and I saw them doing multiple breaks just the other day. Tower or the FSDO doesn't seem to have a problem with it here.

[Brian130]

http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraff...04.html#5-4-25

Scroll down to 5-4-26.

[RVbySDI]

Brian,
Thanks for the diagram and the link. However, I am still somewhat confused on the overhead break. I would like a little more clarification for my understanding.

The diagram you provided shows the pattern and the link discusses the FAA "regulatory" procedures but both are leaving out a few things that are keeping me confused. What altitude is all of this action taking place? Is this all at pattern altitude? Or, do you come in above the pattern and lose altitude at the break point so that when you make the 180 turn to downwind you are at pattern altitude then? What speeds are you coming in at (I know this must vary by the aircraft capabilities)? Do you just chop the power at some point and come down or do you at some point in the 3-5 NM range decrease power so that the break has you at some partial power setting? What is the benefit in entering the pattern with this maneuver?

Can you, or someone else, give some further descriptions of these and any other details concerning this maneuver?

[Noah]

I dunno about you, but I found that diagram to be a little confusing. And hey, textbook diagrams are SO last century! To really explain this maneuver, I think we should send Groucho out to do an Overhead Break and then post the video here for us, er, civilians. Yeah, that would be cool.

While you're at it, another half hour video of low level acro canyon flying is just what I need to keep me motivated

We love those videos, keep 'em coming!