Approach from the North into Southampton (EGHI)
 

I am an ex-PPL (which will no doubt count against me on here, but bear with me).

When I fly back into Southampton (as SLF) and the runway in use is 20 if coming from the north then the routing is vaguely down the A34 (Oxford Newbury ish) but just north of EGHI there tends to be a 360 degree descending turn which I assume brings the aircraft onto the localiser.

I had a quick look at the approach plates (very quick) and could not see that this was obviously part of the procedural approach, so I just wondered why is that done, rather than earlier descent and a straight in (presumably the former is keeping the aircraft in controlled airspace) and where is that part of the approach published (or is it not?). A friend of mine says the turn is initially executed at the outer marker, I am not so sure.

Many thanks in advance for your help and apologies if this is a really dumb question!

Regards

Rob

It is indeed to keep the aircraft in controlled airspace as the base to the north is too high for a straight in.

I'm told the approach is known locally as the "Winchester 2 arrival" as it's so good you see Winchester twice!

Thank you very much for the replies - can either of you confirm the turn commences overhead the outer marker? Or is it just a judgement call from Solent radar?

We got the height off on a FAM I did a few years ago straight in without the orbit on a EZE/T3 E145 7 or 8000ft until about 14DMEish. On the way back we went all the way through TMA west sector without being able to get a word in for climb!

We used to be able to go straight in from the north by going outside CAS briefly. I think there was some light (not talking to anyone) vs. heavy interaction at one point which upset someone at SOU ATC healthy and safety department.

I believe it is now unit policy to keep the heavy stuff inside CAS, hence the Winchester Wheel.

Bit boring for us but there you go.

So is it the (boring) OM or just a judged guess for the start of the turn? It is important because I will win or lose a bet!

I suspect it's arbitrary. It was never a perfect orbit, sometimes you got a bit more of a downwind leg than others.

Thanks for that, I won the bet!

Virtual pint to you all.

Rob

Of course!