Approach question
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Daventry
Approach question
You are approaching an airfield from the north,rwy 27 LH in use,OHJ prohibited,another airfield 5 miles to the west,noise sensitive town to the east.Airfield is a/g.
Best/safest way to join,bet I get more than one opinion?
MM
Best/safest way to join,bet I get more than one opinion?
MM
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: scotland
Is this hypothetical and with no published approach?
If not,. check with the field, if yes there are several options.
Join downwind lh, 5 miles is a long way but if in doubt get on frequency with the other field and check their traffic. I am assuming they are flying left hand circuits for a reason and would have consulted the other field regarding this.
You could go further East to avoid the town and come in on long final.
I will sit back now and see what happens, there are other options and Im sure they will arrive shortly
.
If not,. check with the field, if yes there are several options.
Join downwind lh, 5 miles is a long way but if in doubt get on frequency with the other field and check their traffic. I am assuming they are flying left hand circuits for a reason and would have consulted the other field regarding this.
You could go further East to avoid the town and come in on long final.
I will sit back now and see what happens, there are other options and Im sure they will arrive shortly
.
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: South Yorkshire
I'd aim to join the circuit on the crosswind leg (from the north). This would be exactly where you would be after the descent on the deadside of a standard OHJ - with the Pilot in the LH seat having a good view of the runway in use.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Daventry
Hypothetical
Tis indeed hypothetical but not unlikely.
Have seen some lively debate here on crosswind joins,presumably join crosswind over the numbers?
Probably would have been my choice with plenty of r/t for the benefit of others in the cct.
Any more?
MM
Have seen some lively debate here on crosswind joins,presumably join crosswind over the numbers?
Probably would have been my choice with plenty of r/t for the benefit of others in the cct.
Any more?
MM
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: South Yorkshire
A crosswind join over the numbers is part of the standard ovehead join. I wouldn't go overboard on the R/T though. "G-XX, Airfield in sight, joining cross-wind." should be sufficient. Much more important to listen out and look to ensure you know where the other circuit traffic is. Joining crosswind, your conflicting traffic will be either taking off, or be on the downwind leg. If you are listening out, you should be able to integrate with the other traffic easily.
tp
tp
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: London
The least amount of noise is created by the least manouvering around the airfield so, depending on traffic and anything noise-sensitive on the ground, you could do a RIGHT base join for 27.
I have done this sometimes, having asked A/G if they minded and usually when there is no other circuit traffic.
Once, I was given this without asking at a fairly large airport with full ATC, and he put me in direct conflict with circuit traffic! I ended up orbiting over the town on right base at 800ft.
I have done this sometimes, having asked A/G if they minded and usually when there is no other circuit traffic.
Once, I was given this without asking at a fairly large airport with full ATC, and he put me in direct conflict with circuit traffic! I ended up orbiting over the town on right base at 800ft.
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From: Amsterdam
It also depends on the country. Netherlands specifies a 90 degree join onto mid-downwind (from the outside of the circuit, not from the overhead) as the only way to join a circuit at an uncontrolled field - although sometimes straight-ins are also allowed.
To reach that point you have to fly the long way around or, if weather and airspace allows, fly well above the ATZ, overhead the field, to that point.
UK-style OHJs, or base/crosswind joins are not appreciated here.
To reach that point you have to fly the long way around or, if weather and airspace allows, fly well above the ATZ, overhead the field, to that point.
UK-style OHJs, or base/crosswind joins are not appreciated here.
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: UK
As tacpot has said, the obvious and safest way is crosswind from the deadside (N), over the upwind end of 27 to join the LH circuit downwind. As well as being safe, that's also what any other aircraft in the circuit would be expecting you to do.
To join right base in a LH circuit is both unsafe and contrary to Rule 12 of RoA. It is not permitted unless there is an ATC Unit which authorises it.
JD
To join right base in a LH circuit is both unsafe and contrary to Rule 12 of RoA. It is not permitted unless there is an ATC Unit which authorises it.
JD
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Vancouver Island
Hm.... unless i do not understand british air law at all... but why cant you just overfly the airfield to the west at like 2500agl or take an even wider berth to the west avoiding it entirely and just join on downwind standard?????? obviously after a quick descent to circuit height
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From: 75N 16E
I'd aim to join the circuit on the crosswind leg (from the north). This would be exactly where you would be after the descent on the deadside of a standard OHJ - with the Pilot in the LH seat having a good view of the runway in use.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Daventry
Thanks so far
Before posting this,I would have opted for crosswind over the upwind nos at cct ht into downwind a la OHJ (failing any joining advice when PPr'ing) but interesting to see all opinions.Seems nothing is black and white in these type of things.
MM
MM
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: UK
JD, no I am not joking. I can see why standard OHJ would not work if there was another field nearby. CLJ gets around this problem. Check your Pooleys for Sleap airfield. As for your comment it is "totally non-standard", I really don't know what that means. It is a legit (and practiced) way of approaching a field with the circumstances described.
JohnGV, welcome to the UK and busy airspace.
Wombat13
JohnGV, welcome to the UK and busy airspace.
Wombat13