highflight42x
Well Known Member
Here is a situation I encounter a lot at non-towered airports: airplane #1 is on crosswind and either turning or near to turning downwind, and airplane #2 is close-in on the 45 and about to turn downwind. Who should yield to whom? The FAA rules and advisories are not clear on this except that the airplane to the right or below the other has the right-of-way (pls educate me if I missed something in the regs). But, the situation changes rapidly and predictably as both airplanes are near to turning or into their turn to the downwind. When I am airplane #2, many times I have turned off of the 45 and done a 360 to let the crosswind airplane get well ahead on the downwind. And when the situation looked like I could stay ahead of the crosswind-to-downwind airplane by at least several hundred feet, I've made my 45-to-downwind turn in front of the crosswind airplane. And I've been airplane #1 many times as well - the same sort of decisions are required in that position. I have always thought, from training and experience, that the 45 and the crosswind are equally "in the traffic pattern", and it is a judgment call for each pilot to maintain adequate spacing. Can y'all point me to the FAA regs and advisories that will clarify this, or relate your experiences?
thanks!
Steven
1450 RV hours - another one today!
thanks!
Steven
1450 RV hours - another one today!