Blackbushe deadside joins

[November Charlie]

Is there a definitive diagram for deadside joins at Blackbushe?

If you're approaching from the south at 2000ft and cross the midpoint to descend on the deadside, there's very little room to turn back and join the circuit whilst avoiding Yateley and Eversley.

Thoughts?

[englishal]

Cross the downwind numbers at 2000', descend deadside and cross the upwind numbers at cct height and join on the crosswind??

[Talkdownman]

To remain within the Blackbushe ATZ and comply with local noise abatement it needs an 'assertive' descent. When on 25 look out for aircraft joining deadside directly from the 'Local Area' to the west. Some pilots have been known to make right-hand turns onto the crosswind in a left-hand traffic pattern thus meeting OHJ traffic on the deadside. Not good with a low-wing/high wing combination. I have witnessed close encounters just north of the 07 numbers. Look out for those aircraft which ignore Rule 12 and insist upon joining directly downwind or straight in to Final.

[OMGisThatJohn]

Whatever you do, do not overfly Yately. Flew over at 2000" last year and had a local calling the airport claiming I was at 500" before I even touched wheels on tarmac. Apparently the bloke has the tower on speed-dial.

[custardpsc]

Wouldnt you descend to circuit height and join downwind rather than overhead join? If you were coming from south preumably youd be talking to farnborough and able to position accordingly. Its a long time since I have flown at blackbushe but joins from the west were usually taught to descend to the north and join midfield crosswind to middownwind / fit in to circuit traffic if I remember correctly. Dont recall overhead joins being used. Be interested to know what is currently regarded as the correct joining procedures.

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by custardpsc

If you were coming from south preumably youd be talking to farnborough and able to position accordingly

Rule 45 requires the following:

'the commander shall obtain information from the flight information service unit to enable the flight to be conducted safely within the zone'

...so one would need to be in communication with Blackbushe prior to entering the ATZ. Farnborough do not have the authority to confer entry.

A join 'midfield crosswind to middownwind / fit in to circuit traffic' is not an element of the UK CAA OHJ. You certainly would not be very popular at Blackbushe doing that.

Originally Posted by November Charlie

Is there a definitive diagram for deadside joins at Blackbushe?

The UK CAA OHJ will suffice. Compliance with noise abatement is not difficult. If Manhattan Premierjets can do it then SEPs can do it.

Tip: Flight above the disused runway 14/32 will ensure Noise Abatement Compliance w.r.t. Yateley. It works for both 25 and 07.

[November Charlie]

Thanks TDM.

So, for 25 from the south, that would be overhead 07 numbers at 2000', "assertive" descent and turn towards Yateley, down disused 14 to be level at 1000' for entry on the downwind leg?

For 07, overhead 25 numbers at 2000', up disused 32 descending to join the downwind leg at 1000'.

[Talkdownman]

So, for 25 from the south, that would be overhead 07 numbers at 2000', "assertive" descent and turn towards Yateley, down disused 14 to be level at 1000' for entry on the downwind leg?

For 07, overhead 25 numbers at 2000', up disused 32 descending to join the downwind leg at 1000'

For 25 from the south - over the 25 numbers at 2000ft, descend deadside to circuit height using the disused Runway 32 to keep clear of Yateley. Cross the 07 numbers at circuit height, SEP 800ft, then integrate downwind.

For 07 from the south - over the 07 numbers at 2000ft, descend deadside to circuit height using the disused Runway 14 to keep clear of Yateley. Cross the 25 numbers at circuit height SEP 800ft, then integrate downwind.

From IAIP AD 2-EGLK-1-5:

All circuits are to be flown south of the aerodrome.
Circuit heights: Light single-engined aircraft - 800 ft (AD QFE); Twin-engined and executive aircraft - 1200 ft (AD QFE). At night the circuit height for all aircraft is 1000 ft (AD QFE).

It's not difficult provided that once you have crossed the runway numbers you don't dilly-dally with the dead-side descent. For an SEP you've got 1200ft to lose in the turn. Just keep an ear out and a sharp look out on the dead-side. Always look out up the downwind leg for direct downwind joiners ('cos people do...), stay north of the M3, and always look out up the final approach track for 'optimistic' straight-in (or excessively wide circuit) traffic ('cos people do...).