MerlinV8, you have hit the nail on the head perfectly there!
Basically it boils down to, CASA think that nobody has the common sense to join overhead or downwind etc when its busy so therefore made a rule so you must do 3 legs of the circuit no matter where you are or what the conditions are. NZCAA on the other hand realise that different situations require different procedures, and figure we have some semblance of common sense and will join in the safest way for the situation.
What '4x was referring to was when the bushflight planes would return to Curtin from Koolan Island in the north, and at the suggestion of the chief pilot would join a base for Rwy 11 because the track flew right to that point. Everyone was on the same track, and ended up at the same point in the circuit, and it worked perfectly cos everyone did the same thing...except him
