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Old 27th Jun 2010, 09:53
  #15 (permalink)  
TBM-Legend
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NSW
Posts: 4,298
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Navy "Charlie" pattern at 300 feet is better...


...or jet ops:
Landing Pattern Entry
The break is a level 180° turn made at 800 feet, descending to 600 feet when established downwind. Landing gear/flaps are lowered, and landing checks are completed. When abeam (directly aligned with) the landing area on downwind, the aircraft is 180° from the ship’s course and approximately 1˝ miles from the ship, a position known as “the 180” (because of the angled flight deck, there is actually closer to 190° of turn required at this point). The pilot begins his turn to final while simultaneously beginning a gentle descent. At “the 90” the aircraft is at 450 feet, about 1.2 nm from the ship, with 90° of turn to go. The final checkpoint for the pilot is crossing the ship’s wake, at which time the aircraft should be approaching final landing heading and at ~350 feet. At this point, the pilot acquires the Optical Landing System (OLS), which is used for the terminal portion of the landing. During this time, the pilot’s full attention is devoted to maintaining proper glideslope, lineup, and “angle of attack” until touchdown.[10]
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