Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

2 Answers

crosswind pattern entry?

Asked by: 1382 views General Aviation

it is a common practice at the uncontrolled field I fly from for gliders to use a descending  1 nm+  crosswind  pattern entry, crossing over the runway extended centerline at the numbers and TPA. What  are the possible downsides to this entry for non-gliders and gliders alike?

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

2 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Aug 22, 2024

    The main guidance from the FAA in AC 90-66C doesn’t address using a crosswind pattern entry for gliders, but the general principle is that gliders should fly a pattern that is inside the powered aircraft pattern and is between 1000 and 600 feet AGL when in the downwind pattern. For powered aircraft, the recommended patterns from the upwind side show two options, both crossing the airport at the midfield point. The preferred option has the powered aircraft cross midfield at 500 feet above pattern altitude and then continuing about 2 NM outside the downwind leg of the pattern, then descending to pattern altitude, and finally doing a turn back to a point where a normal 45 degree entry to the pattern is accomplished. The alternate procedure is for powered aircraft to cross midfield at pattern altitude and directly join the downwind. That said, a glider arriving at the airport from the upwind side and following the basic principles would be best to avoid the powered aircraft pattern and remain inside the powered aircraft pattern. Flying the entry to the pattern by “crossing over the runway extended centerline at the numbers and TPA” seems to me to accomplish the main goals as it avoids the midfield cross overs of powered aircraft, avoids departing powered aircraft, and allows for a turn into the pattern while flying inside the powered aircraft pattern at an altitude between 600 and 1000 AGL.

    So I think it is a reasonable option.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. Motor Glider on Aug 23, 2024

    John,

    Thanks so much for your detailed answer related to gliders using a x wind entry “over” the numbers.

    What about airplanes using a xwind “over the numbers” or a 45 entry to the upwind? the fact that they aren’t mentioned in The Airplane Flying Handbook and might not be expected are the only obvious reasons i can see for not using these. They are safer than an often used “straight in”. They do not require a descent (as the midfield tear drop does), where seeing /being seen with a mix of high/low ing aircraft are involved. It’s quicker than a tear drop and effectively it’s not much different than the case of a aircrfaft on a go around.

    Peter

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.