Question: "Overhead Entry to Downwind?"

Harry Shin wrote:

So, I'm wondering if their overhead approach to an un-controlled field is
"approved"?

Descending into a leg of the pattern is generally considered to be less than safe
due to the risk of a collision. It's a little less dangerous when the descending
aircraft is a high-wing, but it's still frowned upon.

George Patterson
Great discoveries are not announced with "Eureka!". What's usually said is
"Hummmmm... That's interesting...."

Descending into a leg of the pattern is generally considered to be less
than safe
due to the risk of a collision. It's a little less dangerous when the
descending
aircraft is a high-wing, but it's still frowned upon.

While what you say is true, I have tried the "overhead break" on occasion,
and found it to be a very good way to see the entire pattern before entry.
It's also a lot of fun.

On the other hand, it's always the one you *don't* see that kills you, and
ground clutter can make spotting traffic difficult, so descending into the
pattern can be dangerous. To reduce this risk, I've tried entering the
pattern for this kind of an "overhead break" just 100 or so feet above
"normal" pattern altitude. This seemed to be a good compromise, minimized
the amount of time spent descending into a possible conflict, while still
allowing for a good scan of the whole pattern.

Is it still dangerous? I would rate it as mildly more risky than the more
standard "entering on a 45," and slightly less risky than a long
straight-in. Therefore, I don't use this approach when I know there is
other traffic in the pattern.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote

While what you say is true, I have tried the "overhead break" on occasion,
and found it to be a very good way to see the entire pattern before entry.

I didn't know that there was any other entry for the first
18 months of my flying life. :-)

Bob Moore

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:11_Mb.46583$na.36172@attbi_s04...
Descending into a leg of the pattern is generally considered to be less
than safe
due to the risk of a collision. It's a little less dangerous when the
descending
aircraft is a high-wing, but it's still frowned upon.

While what you say is true, I have tried the "overhead break" on occasion,
and found it to be a very good way to see the entire pattern before entry.
It's also a lot of fun.

In the UK, the standard entry at an uncontrolled field is an overhead
join. You arrive above circuit height and then descend on the "dead
side", i.e. the opposide side to the downwind. You then fly crosswind
to downwind. As Jay said, it's a good way of seeing any traffic that is
currently in the circuit. It's also the way to see the windsock.

What you don't do is descend into the circuit.

Paul