When am I "in" the pattern?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Bob Collins

Amen, brother and WHY this doesn't get more attention, I have no clue. I was in the pattern at St. Cloud not long ago and someone announced they were N Blah Blah blah shooting the NDB approach to Runway XX."

Let me add my emphatic "Amen!" (or "Ramen", if you prefer) to this. This scenario played out in one of the most dangerous moments of my PPL training. I had just started soloing, and was in the pattern on a hazy day, 7 miles vis. I was midfield downwind when King Air XYZ starts annoucing he's "at Dinky" or whatever IFR fix it was. I had no frickin clue where this guy was. It became clear that he wasn't even monitoring the CTAF, but rather was flipping over from an IFR frequency to make his call and then flipping back. I doubled my position updates, and then finally decided to just expedite my approach to get away from this guy. That turned out to be a dumb move, because as I turned base to final, I hear "Cessna 123, King Air XYZ is on short final" In other words, "How could you be so dumb to not know I was here?" Until then, I didn't even know he was making an approach. I looked back over my shoulder and saw him for the first time, 1/4 mile back, 100 ft lower than me, and at my 5 o'clock. I firewalled the throttle, turned inside the centerline, and went around.

I know I shouldn't have made the turn to final without knowing where the King Air was, but he should have known where I was, and he should have been making true position updates, rather than IFR fix reports.

[praterdj]

Flying is all about situations and each situation, as well as each pilot, is different. I can only offer my opinion but if I?m approaching an airport I begin to monitor and report my position around the 10 mile out position.

If I hear anyone in the pattern (to me that means on upwind, cross wind, down wind, base, or final, or obviously on the runway) I listed closely to determine their location and our probable proximity when I am on final. If I know I can execute my final before they are established on base I don?t change my approach. If this is in doubt I position for a 45 entry into down wind. Some might not agree with this but I feel someone is established in any leg of the pattern (if the leg has a name I consider it part of the pattern) I give them the right of way.

Again that doesn?t mean that I immediately break of my straight in approach but I do give them priority. There is nothing wrong with a straight in approach if the traffic permits. Considering the high amount of air traffic at some airports plus factor in the pilots that for whatever stupid and inconsiderate reasons don?t announce their position, it is up to each of us to be as courteous and safe as possible. I now some will argue that there are planes that don?t have radios??well you can buy a handheld for a couple hundred bucks and use it only around the airports.

In your PPL training it discusses the proper/preferred way to enter a traffic pattern in a busy airport. This should be the default if there is any question about someone?s location or intent.

Too many times I have been cut off by ignorant or arrogant (maybe they are the same) people. It seems that some people think just because their airplane is more expensive or faster that they are exempt from the rules. I?m sure we have all experienced these ego jockeys.

I?m m not trying to sound negative?.If you ask me I will gladly give way most of the time. It is up to everyone to ensure safety and respect.

Donald Prater
RV-8 Empennage underway
N-284DP (Reserved)

[Ironflight]

Don gave a response that I agree with 100% - excellent post! To me, it is all about being courteous, and letting the other guy have the right of way (unless I am on fire or soemthing...). I generally don't mind flying a few more minutes, especially if I'm in the RV!

One other point about position reporting - it pays to be accurate! Here in the Houston/Galveston area, the major roads, highways, and runways all seem to be angled about 45 degrees to the compass. Ground-pounders tend to think of the streets running north and south, becasue Houston is "north" of Galveston... So some people will report "south of the field" when they are off the end of the runway, when in fact, they are southest. So now, when someone calls in "5 miles South of the field, where does everyone look? "Real" south, or "local south". Since transients only know the "real" directions, you need to stick to the compass. Lots of folks mess that up. In my book, a call that has people looking in the wrong place is WORSE than no call at all, because now everyone stops scanning, and concentrates on a quadrant...and they're looking in the wrong place...

Be safe!