Said aircraft that I was following was outside of the ATZ by extending their circuit. There is no 2 ways about it.
So according to the rule .. are you saying I should put myself also out of the ATZ ?? and what constitutes the traffic pattern - because IMHO this would mean that if you are "following an aircraft" and said aircraft is flying a non standard circuit - you would also be flying a non standard circuit..and the aircraft behind will be doing the same and if there is an aircraft behind they will also do the same due to the domino effect.
So for that "1 hour" - the lead aircraft will be putting all other aircraft out of the ATZ..
Yes, Scoob. That's how it's supposed to work.
Have a word with the 'big circuit' pilot on the ground later to find out what was the reason for the long downwind.
Having said that, it could also be said that, if the aircraft in front extends the downwind far enough, then it has left the 'circuit ' and has lost the right of way that being in the circuit would normally provide.
Where you draw the line is hard to say, and would depend a lot on how big you think a 'normal' circuit should be, and that will depend on what you are used to. I would suggest that any extension significantly outside the size of an ATZ, without any obvious reason could be a candidate for this line of thought.
MJ
