That TLAR doesn't look right

On Sunday, July 19, 2015 at 7:34:18 AM UTC-6, wrote:
I thought we were discussing traffic patterns, not the capabilities of pilots and machines.
As I've mentioned before, it is possible to land from many combinations of heights and distances to the runway. In this thread we are talking about a normal pattern with enough spacing from downwind to the runway, in order to arrive to a final stabilized approach with the right amount of height, speed, distance to the runway, etc.
We are trying to prevent excessive slips and manouvering in the pattern.

"The Pattern" doesn't need to be capitalized or raised to a level of importance it doesn't deserve - it's just a tool to help a pilot make a safe landing. Good pilots will modify it as necessary it to fit conditions. Those less cued in will fly the same pattern every time regardless of conditions - and sometimes end up in the Mesquite.

If a pilot is concerned about sudden height loss due to strong sink or wind shear, flying a pattern close and high makes sense.

I've always flown in the western US where strong sink and wind shear can be expected so my patterns tend to be high and close. Many times I've landed using very little spoiler due to extreme sink - and been very thankful I'd had so much excess energy in the pattern. I get really nervous when riding with someone making a wide, low pattern.