"Report 4 mile left base" ?

[PilotChip]

POSTED BY danpilot775pd

Where does a controller want you to report when they state "n123 enter left base report 4 miles". Is this referring to 4 miles from your present position to the runway (2 miles on base and 2 on final), or to enter a left base to a point where you are on a two mile final?

Thx

 

[PilotChip]

Re: "Report 4 mile left base" ?

When instructed to "Enter left base, report 4 miles" or something similar...the pilot is (normally) expected to report established on the left base, AND at a point 4 miles from the approach end of the runway, or the like.

There may be slight variations to this depending on the individual controller's expectations.

 

[USMC-SSGT]

Re: "Report 4 mile left base" ?

I've always taken it as establish yourself on left base and report when 4 miles laterally from the airport. They do not care whether you plan on flying a 2 mile base and 2 mile final or 3-3/4 mile base and 1/4 mile final, they only want to know when you are 4 out. This was a common instruction and I always took it as such and never had any questions. I visited the controllers all the time and always meant to confirm but always forgot by the time I made it to the top.

 

[Holding Short]

Re: "Report 4 mile left base" ?

Or...next time they ask you to report 4 mile left base, just say what do you mean?

Or say " sir, could you please explain to my student here exactly what you want him to do.

Just trying to get rid of that massage of not posting in over a month.

HS

 

[Chief Captain]

Re: "Report 4 mile left base" ?

I'd assume they want me to enter on a left base, and report 4DME from the field.

 

[ChristheCFII]

I visited a tower about a month ago and got an answer.

They want you to set up for a normal base to final turn, but report four miles out on the base leg. In other words, you are reporting four miles before you turn final.

 

[Sled14]

So basically 4 miles from the extended centerline of the runway? Thats what I always thought was the case

 

[N519AT]

I interpret it as "call me when you're 4 miles from the airport, on a left base"

 

[PilotChip]

So basically 4 miles from the extended centerline of the runway? Thats what I always thought was the case

I like this answer too. :nana2:

4 miles directly out from the centerline while you're established on the base.

 

[sigmanu499]

I dont normally ask pilots to report this. But I do use to to give traffic "xxxx position and hold, traffic 3 mile left base xxxx". I use it to indicate that the traffic in on a base 3 miles from the runway. A can say also the controllers dont expect too much from pilot reports. Sure, its great if you can actually be 3 miles when you say you are but I dont expect too much, from what i see. Recently I told a netjets citation that traffic to follow was a cessna 1 mile right base. He come back and says hes on a 1 mile right base in a somewhat upset voice because he thought the traffic was right next to him. The problem was he was 5 mile base. See this all the time and thats why I dont really expect too much from the pilots when it comes to position reports.

 

[5hrsit]

As a controller I would tell a pilot to enter left base runway xx report 4 mile final. This way there is no question as to where I wanted them to report. The pilot would enter the left base, as to be turning a 4 mile final. At some airports, the ARP is closer or farther from the runway threshold. When you mention "4 mile final" this is from the runway threshold.

 

[fish314]

As a controller I would tell a pilot to enter left base runway xx report 4 mile final. This way there is no question as to where I wanted them to report. The pilot would enter the left base, as to be turning a 4 mile final. At some airports, the ARP is closer or farther from the runway threshold. When you mention "4 mile final" this is from the runway threshold.

From a pilot's perspective, this sounds like a much less ambiguous instruction. And I might actually be able to guesstimate a 4 mile final a whole lot better than a 4 mile left base (whatever that's supposed to mean).