It struck me the other day how dangerous VRPs are. For example, I left the zone to the NW the other day, "not above 2000" . Then later inbound from the NW "not above 2000". Seemed everyone was doing the same.
On the way in I maintained around 1700-1800' to keep within Rule 5 until fairly close to the airfield, and all outbound traffic was climbing to around this altitude. Needless to say several aircraft passed [or we passed them
] at the same altitude not that far away. Ok it was VFR and there was little danger, but still it gets the old spincter twitching to see other aircraft so close, and makes you think about the one "you didn't see".....
So my questions are:
Am I right in my interperations of Rule 5? Rule 5 doesn't prohibit flight less than 1500' if taking off or landing at a licenced aerodrome. I maintained >1500' while inbound becasue I was talking to the radar controllers not the tower controller. Once I was passed off to the tower and was fairly close to the airport I decended to pattern altitude. Could I have decended earlier? I assume that once inbound and talking to the tower you are "intending to land" so Rule 5 can be broken, but before this time you cannot
Secondly, wouldn't it be better for the controllers to clear say outbound traffic one direction and inbound from another or something along those lines, to avoid head on traffic? I appreciate that in VMC traffic is resposible for seperation, but while orbiting over a VRP waiting for entry clearance, I heard someone else call over the same VRP who I hadn't seen....They must have been somewhere between ground and 2000' same as me, which is not a lot of room....I actually requested rejoin N of the field not over a VRP for precisely this reason, but was told to make for the VRP and orbit....
Cheers
EA