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In a message dated 01/24/2006 10:17:45 AM Eastern Standard Time, lorn@dynacomm.ws writes:
What good since rules or even FAA rules, for that matter, am I, or
anyone doing the standard overhead approach, violating?
After reading my writing above, I have convinced myself to do
overhead approaches whenever possible. I am starting today.
Hi Lorn & others,
I do overhead approaches as well, especially when we are arriving in formation. It's the easiest way to break up the formation. And I've been told that it looks real cool!! ;-)
The only problem with overhead approaches, especially in non-controlled airports, is that most of the spam cams trolling around the pattern don't know what the heck an overhead approach is! If you said something like, "Lancair on a 2 mile initial for the overhead...", very few folks in the pattern, IMHO, would know what you mean or know what your position is.
So, to make my position MORE clear, I usually say or add, "Lancair, overhead approach, entering the UPWIND for Rwy 28". This way, 'they'll'' know that I am flying the OPPOSITE of downwind even if they have no idea what an overhead approach is...
As for high-speed low flybys down the RUNWAY ...IMHO, don't feel this is a terribly unsafe maneuver as long as you know what the heck you are doing. Hey, I do it all the time (as some of you already know). It's one of the really neat things that my Lancair can do real well. Please note that I didn't just fly one day and execute a fast low approach out of the blue.--- I had several highly experienced Lancair pilots show me how to execute the maneuver properly & safely.
Some may regard it as reckless but I differ in that opnion. Going low and fast around my neighborhood or following a river or highway, low and fast, would be an entirely different story.
So what's the purpose of this maneuver? I guess it's simply to show-off my plane...nothing wrong with that. Been doing it for years and have never had anybody complain or been accused of being reckless. Yes, there is probably a higher risk compared to simply landing the damn thing, but it's one that I have chosen to accept.
I've been closely monitoring Lancair accident files over the years. I can recall only one accident where the individual was actually doing a high-speed, low pass down the rwy and ended up stalling the airplane (I beleive it was the 'Dream Catcher' 320). The guy, if I remember correctly, just purchased the plane and probably have never execute this maneuver before. Does anybody here know of more such accidents?? Please advice.
BTW, doing this maneuver with the gear down is probably not the way to go...which is why I believe the pilot of a recent Lancair crash had an entirely different intention in mind on his gear-down low-approach flight.
Ok, start shooting....aim, fire!!!
-Grease
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