Student orbiting in the circuit
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Student orbiting in the circuit
Any thoughts on whether a solo student should orbit in the circuit for spacing? on an air-ground service so wasnt instructed, so personally ! see nothing wrong with it, others seem to hark back to a case when a student stalled it, and crashed, maybe he was told to do it and wasnt self initiated, different mindset.
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I think there are various hazards in orbiting in the circuit in addition to loss of speed, such as blind spots in the turn and ultimately flying for a short time in the opposite direction to the circuit. there are other things that can be done in anticipation such as extending the heading on the initial climb on runway heading or extending the downwind leg, but one tecnnique I suspect is rarely taught or exercise is slowing down, flap one, reduced power and hence lower airspeed.
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I was taught (RAF) never to extend downwind, especially in a busy circuit. If one extends, the next one has to extend too and so does the next. Before you know it, aircraft are well outside the ATZ, therefore technically having left the circuit.
Better to extend upwind instead, which doesn't put aircraft so far away.
Better to extend upwind instead, which doesn't put aircraft so far away.
The only time you should orbit in a circuit is if requested by ATC otherwise if you need to adjust your timing, the correct procedure is to go around from wherever you are, and reposition downwind. The worst example I have seen was an instructor who told his student to orbit in the opposite direction to the circuit, whilst on a test!
You can always 'go-around' at any stage in the circuit and therefore turn towards the deadside before continuing the next 180deg of the turn back onto the downwind leg - effectively an orbit. Off course it's not going to work out so well if one flys those strange 'square' circuits.
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You can't conform to SERA 3225 (operation on and in the vicinity of an aerodrome) if you are orbiting in the circuit, so I've always worked on the basis that orbits in the circuit aren't allowed unless under the direction of ATC. There was a CAA reference somewhere but I can't find it at the moment.
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Agree. I don't think orbiting in the circuit is a safe option. Better to extend or climb into the overhead and start again if slowing down isn't an option.
Only ever orbit at controlled fields with ATC instructions and ultimately they're keeping an eye on the spacing.
At an uncontrolled field, you have no idea what's behind you, and they may not even have a radio, so orbiting is quite unpredictable and could lead to lots of confusion, as well as the solo student controll issues you have raised.
Extending downwind also has the problem of making the circuit longer and longer for everyone behind.
As above, the only real options are to slow down, or if spacing is too tight, go around and fly another circuit.
I don't really see extending upwind as a solution, as you would have to realise the spacing will be tight so early on, I wouldn't expect that level of situational awareness from a freshly minted PPL, let alone a solo student.
I believe there was a fatal crash a few years ago when ATC asked a solo student to orbit in the circuit. Haven’t got time to find it on the AAIB website so perhaps someone can find a link. Tragic accident.
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We are A/G only and a guy (not a student) asked today to do an orbit, because he was closing on the one in front, when we had 6 in the circuit, some following him...
I fear pilots in this situation do not know how to fly a go around from the downwind or base leg..
I fear pilots in this situation do not know how to fly a go around from the downwind or base leg..
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As a student, I was instructed to do an orbit when on final (I'd guess I was at around 400ft) due to a Sea King appearing over the threshold (he'd misheard an instruction to remain clear of the runway 
).
I remember monitoring airspeed and adding some power, and it must have worked out ok
).I remember monitoring airspeed and adding some power, and it must have worked out ok
Your instructor should haved briefed you that in the event you cannot continue the approach, you should go around; you should have practiced this before going solo. At 400 ft an aircraft on approach is not configured to do orbits and ATC should not have requested you to orbit. If it was not ATC, then they should have told you the runway was obstructed by a large helicopter, you do not want to be anywhere near the wake of a SeaKing!
At busy airports you have little choice, but at least you have ATC to coordinate things. At uncontroled airfields the prospect of meeting someone going the wrong way because they have deceided to orbit rather than go around is dangerous and unnecessary. What ever type of airfield you operate from, instructors should brief their students accordingly and make them practice all manoeuvres they are likely to have to do before ever sending them solo. That is why we have Restriced FIs, so that they learn all the necessary skills before being let loose to send students solo.
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