Originally Posted by
ShyTorque
........ ATC are perfectly entitled to control joining traffic.
I agree, but (a) this seems not to be the case here and (b) when they do, it's usually conditional if the other cct has traffic which appears to be what alerted
Supermattt in this instance.
If there is no other traffic, right or left does not matter - ATC will tell you and off you go. But, in this case,
Supermattt seems to have heard RH cct traffic so questioned ATC who then contradicted what they'd said ("left hand") and confirmed they wanted
Sm to actually fly a RH cct. The use of the word "left hand downwind" is not appropriate (according to the CAP) for a RH cct. I think we need
Supermattt to clear up our confusion now.
I have, on occasions, flown a mixed contra-circuit in the UK, usually to fit in with some "cunning ATCO master plan" or similar and it was always loaded up with "conditionals" and warnings so I'd get something along the lines of (assuming everyone else was on a left hand cct) "C/S, join right hand downwind for 27 right hand circuit, report ready for right Base. You are currently No 2 to the traffic just turning downwind in the left hand circuit. Report when you have that traffic in sight". Usually, once I'd confirmed "visual" the clearance changed to something like "With that traffic in sight, report Final as No 2, you may extend downwind for spacing". As you say
3wheels (and
Shy!!), it can save crossing the departure lane to join downwind.
The confusion here seems to be that ATC cleared
Sm for "left hand downwind" but wanted
Sm to fly a RH cct. We need
Supermattt to explain!!