FFF asks:
Interesting almost-related question: you're flying into a field with ATC, and you're cleared to join on base leg (or final). How do you judge where to do your BUMFICHH checks???
I (am learning to) fly at Southampton, and often am told to join onto a base leg: in fact very rarely do I get to do downwind unless in a circuit. Anyway, I (we) do the prelanding checks once I've entered the zone and been told to join (and report) on a base leg . Usually while descending from clearance altitude (below 1500 on QNH) to circuit (1000 on QFE) just to add to my workload. There is enough time there, as the zone is quite large (5 nm radius if memory serves). Dunno what you do in a smaller zone: panic I suppose, or do the checks before getting there?
RR