Straight-In approach legality

picard-facepalm.jpg
 
Unfortunately this is not just going on in Alaska. I have seen this come up a few times recently- pilots facing certification action for right patterns even under circumstances that most of us would deem justified. I understand proceeding with certification action if your right traffic results in other issues (such as cutting someone off), but otherwise I would think it could be dealt with by some off the record counselling. It is what it is. Be warned.
 
I got chastised on the CTAF once by a pilot making a straight-in approach. My student was practicing an emergency descent to landing and made right traffic from overhead the field to follow the straight-in pilot, who proceeded to lecture us on freq. I should have asked him if he was established on the straight in more than one or two miles, preferably five or six miles out.
 
If I need to make a right hand turn to safely line up with the runway 4 miles away from the field...yeah, I'm doing it. Sorry feds, but tracking to the field, making a left 270 over the field, or otherwise maneuvering to join the pattern in a big airplane (i.e. greater than 12500) is not only a stupid waste of fuel, its dangerous. Can I read this as saying a 737 should join the pattern with a bunch of other "little" airplanes so that they don't have to turn right? Sorry, I am an ambiturner. Where does the "pattern" technically begin? I mean, honestly, even in the 1900 I'm no further out than a mile or so at most at my farthest point from the airport on the widest downwind ever...yeah. This is asinine.
 
My foundation in aviation started in the Navy where I cut my teeth on NATOPS so I believe in rules but I also believe that each of us is capable of making decisions, some better than others, based on the rules. I instruct at a non-towered (albeit uncontrolled) field and can tell you that I have seen too many, (what the feds refer to) non-standard entries into the traffic pattern, I'm sure everyone has been privileged to this experience. The purpose of this reg and others, contrary to opinion, is to protect each of us from the other and provide some frame-work for the average pt91 pilot to operate their aircraft safely. Straight-ins are legal provided they're done safely with regard to other aircraft operating within the legal limits of the established traffic pattern.
There is a precarious balance between legal, safe, and practical. We are all accountable for our actions as pilots, specifically PIC and if a well heeled lawyer wants to hang us, well the law has already provided them with carte blanc via 14CFR91.3.


ref:
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_G...7c9457e4ab862569d800780551/$FILE/AC90-66A.pdf
 
Now what then are we supposed to do when doing a circling approach that requires a right turn to final? The AIM tells me to "maneuver the shortest path to the base or downwind leg". I need to stay within the circling radius so a 5 mile final is out of the question. I guess using the FAA judges logic, such circling approaches are not authorized.
 
smig said:
Now what then are we supposed to do when doing a circling approach that requires a right turn to final? The AIM tells me to "maneuver the shortest path to the base or downwind leg". I need to stay within the circling radius so a 5 mile final is out of the question. I guess using the FAA judges logic, such circling approaches are not authorized.
Click to expand...


This was exactly what I was thinking. There are some cases where a circling approach turns into a straight in approach because you get the field in sight way before you reach mins, and it's much more practical to line yourself up on about a 1.5/2 mile final. Would I get violated for that? After reading this, I'm am no longer certain. I think these rulings have set a dangerous precedent.
 
In what world is a "straight in approach" done at 1 mile (300 ft AGL) away from the runway? I would agree with the FAA. I would (personally) define a straight in approach as one that you are established on the center line outside of the traffic pattern alt.

Also maybe this shows my ignorance but I would assume this applies only for VFR aircraft. If you are IFR and cleared for the approach but plan to circle, are you expected to circle making left/right mandated traffic? I would hardly think so. What about on an approach such as a VOR-A with a slight dogleg to the right vs. left traffic? In VMC or IMC conditions you are doing the same thing - going "straight in" while making that 30* turn (+/-) to the runway. I would think the cleared for the visual approach clearance would have the same application when going to a field with no tower. Avoid clouds, line up, and land.
 
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