T o d d P a t t i s t wrote in
:

Judah wrote:
....
You can
"avoid" entering the pattern by flying a straight-in approach (ie: be on
Final) but entering on a Crosswind is not authorized.

This is incorrect.

You're right. I should have said not recommended in the AIM, Advisory
Circular No.90-66A, or the Pilot/Controller Glossary... I must have had
Procedure Turns on the brain.

Typically, I think most pilots who need to get to the other side of the
runway for the pattern fly over the runway and pattern by about 500',
make sure there is no one on the downwind, and then loop around as they
drop altitude to enter the pattern on a 45* angle as recommended.

I don't see this much. It requires extra flying around in
the vicinity of the airport and descending near the area
where other planes are regularly entering the pattern at an
altitude below you. My personal opinion is that it's
riskier than the crosswind approach and its main benefit is
that if you use this on a flight test no instructor or DPE
can really fault you.


I'm surprised you don't see it much. I believe it is SUBSTANTIALLY LESS risky
than the Crosswind Approach, especially for those of us flying low-wing
planes who might miss a high-wing NORDO pilot who might take off as we are
coming in, or be departing the pattern from the upwind leg as recommended in
the AIM. It is also in line with Section 8 of Advisory Circular No. 90-66A
which states:

"8. RECOMMENDED STANDARD TRAFFIC PATTERN.
....
a. Prior to entering the traffic pattern at an airport without an operating
control tower, aircraft should avoid the flow of traffic until established
on the entry leg.
....
b, Arriving aircraft should be at the appropriate traffic pattern altitude
before entering the traffic pattern. Entry to the downwind leg should be
at a 45-degree angle abeam the midpoint of the runway."

Presumably, if one enters the downwind from a crosswind, it will be at a 90
degree angle about 1/4 mile past the end of the runway, not at a 45 degree
angle abeam the midpoint of the runway.

I'm not sure that everyone follows the rules, but I'm pretty sure that
everyone certainly keeps their eyes open...

And the spots I look the hardest a 1) on entry to the 45
to make sure someone in a low wing is not descending onto
me, 2) at the turn to downwind to coordinate the crosswind
and 45 entry traffic, with a glance back up the downwind for
long downwind entry traffic , and 3) a look to the right at
the base to final turn to see the straight in crowd and
those who fly patterns 2 miles out.

Good places to look, but what about departing traffic?
I think if you enter the downwind at a 45 to the midpoint, you might save
yourself a little extra work/risk as compared with a Crosswind entry.
Especially since you don't seem to be looking for it... Certainly worth an
extra two minutes or so to fly a nice safe teardrop.

While the AIM's advice is indeed not mandatory, it certainly is pretty good
advice...