Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 23:40:22 -0500
Message-ID: <redirect-935218@logan.com>
Received-SPF: none
 receiver=logan.com; client-ip=66.63.128.161; envelope-from=bnn@nethere.com
From: Guy Buchanan <bnn@nethere.com>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Runway checks, passes, flybys.
In-Reply-To: <list-934073@logan.com>
References: <list-934073@logan.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 03:01 AM 1/20/2006, you wrote:
>Sorry guys but I just can't sit by without commenting on your testosterone 
>charged foolishness.

         Boy Jeff, I hope you've got your Nomex on! I don't know if I worry 
much about a carefully executed high speed pass, though the statistics tend 
to suggest they'll eventually shorten your life span. I do have a problem 
with the overhead break pattern entry, though. It would be fine if it were 
SOP at all times, because everyone would be doing it, expecting it, 
(relatively) competent at it; just like in the military. I don't think, 
however, that it mixes well with the FAA standard 45 degree pattern entry 
that GA pilots are taught. I also don't think it mixes will with a standard 
GA pattern, that has aircraft spread all over the sky, +/-200' and +/- 1/2 
mile. (It's not desirable, but it's reality at most of the airports I 
visit.) As soon as the upwind aircraft breaks to the downwind it becomes 
blind to half the pattern, including the 45 degree inbound leg. I know it's 
easy to say the turning aircraft has right-of-way, and that everyone on the 
downwind should keep clear, but I don't think that's right; the established 
aircraft should have right-of-way, and aircraft entering the pattern should 
keep clear.
         Here in Ramona we used to have a lot of upwind entries before the 
control tower was installed. Indeed the fire bombers used an upwind entry 
exclusively. (Incidentally they were responsible for the only pattern 
midair in recent memory, when a fire bomber dropped in on a fire spotter 
turning final.) The fire squadron put a lot of pressure on the FAA to get a 
tower into Ramona, to make their operations safer. Interestingly, they are 
no longer allowed an upwind break pattern entry, but have to enter on 
downwind, base, or land straight in, like everybody else.


Guy Buchanan
K-IV 1200 / 582 / 99.9% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar.