Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:15 am
#1818720
For me the starting point is having a picture in your head of what you are trying to do.
As others have said a quick call to your destination before you take off even if not needed for PPR will let you know the runway then in use. It might change, but at least you have a starting point.
For example flying in to Headcorn (which forbids overhead joins) the main runway is (IIRC) 09/27.
So if you know the runway in use is 27 left hand circuit (I still have to think about this!!) 27 is due West, so I need to approach the airfield from the west (heading east), with the runway on my left hand side.
Approach the airfield from the west, descend to circuit height report entering the ATZ, fly parallel to the runway with it comfortably on you left hand sight, report downwind when you are abeam the numbers, later make a 90 degree turn left (heading north) and you are on left base, make another 90 degree turn and you are heading West hopefully lined up for 27 and report final. Land, bounce, taxi to parking for tea and cake.
I may even jot down a tiny sketch of the airfield runways (oriented to north) and their numbers on my PLOG and a simple line to show my expected downwind crosswind and final legs.
As others have said a quick call to your destination before you take off even if not needed for PPR will let you know the runway then in use. It might change, but at least you have a starting point.
For example flying in to Headcorn (which forbids overhead joins) the main runway is (IIRC) 09/27.
So if you know the runway in use is 27 left hand circuit (I still have to think about this!!) 27 is due West, so I need to approach the airfield from the west (heading east), with the runway on my left hand side.
Approach the airfield from the west, descend to circuit height report entering the ATZ, fly parallel to the runway with it comfortably on you left hand sight, report downwind when you are abeam the numbers, later make a 90 degree turn left (heading north) and you are on left base, make another 90 degree turn and you are heading West hopefully lined up for 27 and report final. Land, bounce, taxi to parking for tea and cake.
I may even jot down a tiny sketch of the airfield runways (oriented to north) and their numbers on my PLOG and a simple line to show my expected downwind crosswind and final legs.
Last edited by Charles Hunt on Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
Suiting the action to the words