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2 Answers

Radio calls during power off 360 at NTA

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Airspace, Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, General Aviation

I am a military T-6 (TEX2) instructor and occasionally fly simulated forced landing patterns at non-towered airfields.  I typically arrive over the airfield/intended landing point 3,000’ AGL then fly a 360 degree steep descent to a short final.  This maneuver is described in JO 7110.65 (PCG).  I believe the civilian equivalent is the 360 degree power-off landing once required of commercial pilot candidates, and described in previous editions of the Airplane Flying Handbook.  An example of my arrival radio call is “Smithville traffic, Texan 25, a military T-6, 10 miles west for simulated forced landing, runway 17, Smithville traffic.”  My call overhead the field is “Smithville traffic, Texan 25, 3,000’ overhead, left simulated forced landing pattern, runway 17 Smithville traffic.  I have also experimented substituting the overhead “simulated forced landing pattern” call with the following: 1. “descending for left traffic,” 2. “left descending spiral,” 3. “Left 360 degree power-off landing,” and our military call which we use at towered airfields, 4. “High key.”  My base/final calls are similar to civilian calls.

My question is this:  In your opinion, which of these overhead calls would best communicate with other pilots in the pattern?  Also, I’m open to other suggested calls.

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2 Answers



  1. vaflyer on Jan 27, 2025

    I would suggest that when you were inbound to the airport you Announce that you are inbound for a simulated engine failure over the airfield. Then when you’re 3000 feet you announce you are at 3000 feet for a simulated engine failure and the runway you You intend to use for your landing. The 180 power off is a commercial maneuver and many private students wouldn’t even know what it is. And 360 power off hasn’t been used for probably 40 years so really just Use plain language, say what you’re gonna do. If you’re at a non-towered field and you say you are high key, it’s doubtful that pilots will know what you’re talking about. Even at a towered field the tower knows, but most of the pilots don’t know what you’re doing unless they’re from that area and used to military pilots doing the high key.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Jan 28, 2025

    I agree with vaflyer. Plain English, short, and understandable by a student pilot on their first solo.

    On that first call, I probably wouldn’t bother mentioning the forced landing part since most pilots hearing that would be expecting an earlier descent. “Smithville traffic, Texan 25, a military T-6, 10 miles west. Will be maneuvering over the airport at 3000’,” would be my call.

    Once ready to descend would be the time for, “Smithville traffic, Texan 25, 3,000’ overhead, simulated engine out landing, runway 17 Smithville.”

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