Traffic Patterns

[Guest Crezzi]

Its been posted before but here's a link to a distressing UK accident report which illustrates the perils of manoeuves when in the approach configuration.

 

http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/cms_resources/Cessna%20F150L,%20G-BABB%2007-07.pdf

 

 

[lazerin]

I was asked to do an orbit on downwind by the tower today on a solo circuit. Furthermore, the orbit was to the circuit side, which i guess is to avoid violating airspace. Funnily enough, I was reading this thread last night and made a mental note that I would never do an orbit, but I guess it all depends on the circumstances!

 

 

[Barefootpilot]

In a tower situation its a little different as they know the traffic and won't turn you into someone else (or shouldn't anyway!) but they would never ask you to do an orbit on anything but downwind never on base or final.

 

 

[lazerin]

Ah, fair enough Adam. It just took me by surprise a bit, especially when he said to do it to the circuit side. All good though, adds to the experience bank :thumb_up:

 

 

[Guest Baphomet]

My apologies for posting this twice, but I replied to the wrong thread

 

Revenge is a dish best served cold so they say

 

I did most of my PPL training in Townsville, which as many will know can be very busy particularly on a Sat morning when every student from miles around wants to fly. It is also a training airfield for air traffic controllers many of whose first reaction to stress, is arrogance. After a morning of LH ccts (both LH & RH ccts are active at times) in a very busy session, I advised control this would be my last, and the lovely (I presume) young lady responded with 'PXB continue downwind, report turning base' I duly made the call and found myself head-to-head with another aircraft flying right base for the same runway. At that moment control says 'PXB clear to land runway 01' So I respond as casually as I can, 'would I be no 1 or 2 to the Cherokee on right base 01?' Well, you could have heard a pin drop in the radio silence that followed. Shortly after a male voice says 'PXB are you able to perform a LH orbit? I respond ' affermative' and then followed 'XXX continue approach, clear to land, PXB perform LH orbit, clear to land no 2 to XXX'

 

Training $120 ph

 

Putting that B***h back in her box for a moment - priceless