1500ft circuits
I'm curious to know what people think of the recently introduced changes(relatively) to circuit heights for "high performance" aircraft.
Generally, I have found that most have not adopted to the 1500' cct ht and continue to fly 1000' ccts. I personally fly a 1500' cct, but prefer the shorter and quicker 1000' cct when I'm flying at about 140kt.
I reckon the new laws were introduced to provide better conflict resolution between faster and slower aircraft in the circuit area, but I have not once overflown and overtaken another aircraft in a circuit.
How do you fly your circuits? Do you extend your downwind to drop the extra 500'? Do you accept a larger rate of descent within the same downwind leg of the 1000' circuit? Do you slow down to 120kt? Have your companies SOP changed to reflect the new legislation? How do the military teach it?
The legislation from the AIP enroute (25may08) is shown below
57.3 Circuit Height
57.3.1 When operating at non−towered aerodromes, the following circuit
heights are recommended:
a. jets/turbo props/high performance aircraft, 1500FT AGL;
b. typically single engine piston, 1000FT AGL;
c. ultralights with a maximum speed of 55KTS and
helicopters, 500FT AGL.
NOTE: High performance aircraft are those that have a normal
downwind speed of greater than 120 knots.