Exception to pattern altitude is that large or turbine aircraft enter the
pattern at pattern altitude + 500.
I was also surprised at the drone paragraph. Until very recently the FAA was
saying that drones weren’t allowed within 5 miles of the airport. I think that
is still the recommendation.
Mike
From: flytaos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <flytaos-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
Marc Coan
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 11:23
Subject: [flytaos] New Advisory Circular on operations at uncontrolled fields
If you haven't seen it, https://www.nbaa.org/ops/safety/AC_90-66B.pdf
This replaces guidance from 1990 and 1993.
Highlights, with my comments in italics:
* Drones CAN operate at uncontrolled fields in Class G airspace without
notifying anyone. Yikes. (One wonders if an airport sponsor/city can regulate
or ban UAS operations at its uncontrolled airport.) Drones are supposed to stay
under 400' AGL, but we all know this regulation gets violated every day.
* "Pilots are reminded that the use of the phrase, “ANY TRAFFIC IN THE
AREA, PLEASE ADVISE,” is not a recognized self-announce position and/or
intention phrase and should not be used under any condition." Take THAT,
regional airline pilots flying into Alamosa! (This was already in the AIM.)
* "The use of “inbound for landing” should also be avoided. For example,
instead of saying, “MIDWEST TRAFFIC, EIGHT ONE TANGO FOXTROT TEN MILES TO THE
NORTHEAST, INBOUND FOR LANDING RUNWAY TWO TWO MIDWEST,” it is more advisable to
say, “MIDWEST TRAFFIC, EIGHT ONE TANGO FOXTROT TEN MILES NORTHEAST OF THE
AIRPORT, LANDING STRAIGHT IN RUNWAY TWO TWO, MIDWEST.” Guess I'll be changing
my phraseology, as I'd always used "inbound for landing."
* "Pilots are reminded that IFR circling approaches, practice or actual,
require left-hand turns unless the approach procedure explicitly states
otherwise. This has been upheld by prior FAA legal interpretations of §
91.126(b)."
* "Aircraft should always enter the pattern at pattern altitude, especially
when flying over midfield and entering the downwind directly." OK, something
else I have to fix. I was originally taught (and have taught many others) to
cross over at pattern altitude. Then I read somewhere (PHAK or AIM) that we
should cross over 500' higher than the pattern and descend into the pattern
once turning downwind, so I'd been doing that. Turns out my original instructor
from 38 years ago was right in the first place: Thanks, Jeff!
* "Turning Crosswind. Airplanes remaining in the traffic pattern should not
commence a turn to the crosswind leg until beyond the departure end of the
runway and within 300 feet below traffic pattern altitude. Pilots should make
the turn to downwind leg at the traffic pattern altitude." I was always taught,
and teach others, to make the first turn at 400', now it's 700'? That is a long
upwind when taking off from SKX or ALS in an underpowered airplane! For
example, you'll be two miles from the liftoff point if you're climbing at 60
kts. and doing so at a rate of 350 feet per minute. Of course, very few pilots
will read this guidance, so we're going to have some folks still turning
crosswind about a mile out and others not until two miles or so. LOOK OUT,
EVERYONE.
Be safe out there. Don't assume many other pilots know as much as you do now
about the above.
Marc Coan
marc@xxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:marc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
