Whipping Boy's SATCO posted 18th February 2003
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[snip] . . . If he had continued to initials, flown through deadside and broke into the downwind element of the cct at an appropriate time (having visually cleared the downwind leg) we wouldn't have been having this argument.
[snip]
I don't think there is a dead side at North Weald when gliders are operating, because all power is one side (west of 02/20) and gliders do circuits on the other (eastern) side.
I have yet to be convinced that a RIAB at North Weald is capable of being safe unless the pilot has established that no gliders are in circuit or about to join and hence needing to land during the run in - we can't go round again! I also don't see how one can be legal if there are gliders on or near the runway unless the RIAB is carried out at least 500 feet away from them. I don't profess to know what circumstances need to be checked on the power side to make it safe from their perspective.
This is not to say that RIAB's cannot be done, simply that some checks are necessary first, just like I can't do certain things at North Weald in my glider without ascertaining first that they won't cause a problem.