Wed Oct 16, 2013 2:10 pm
#1214220
With about 5 minutes to run to the airfield, I became visual with another aircraft (G-AA) also joining from the South at the same level (2500’). G-AA was in my 1 o’clock, range about 4-500 meters and she immediately put in a radio call confirming joining instructions including standard overhead join runway 27. I immediately put in my call confirming visual with G-AA, OHJ 27 etc.
Although close to G-AA I was comfortable with my position in the knowledge that I could use the OHJ to provide the separation required prior to landing. As we were approaching the ATZ another aircraft called also joining from the South. At this point G-AA started to descend, this seemed in order as she was still above OHJ height, however the decent appeared to become more rapid and she quickly passed through the OHJ height. I did not want to lose sight of G-AA so rapidly reduced power to avoid her disappearing under the nose.
It now became obvious the G-AA has decided to convert to a crosswind join without any radio call and levelled off at circuit height, by now I was starting to gain rapidly as I was flying a significantly heavier aircraft and the inertia from the rapid dive had been converted to speed. I virtually overtook G-AA downwind and was forced to fly at an uncomfortably slow airspeed until G-AA turned base, I was then able to extend my downwind leg to provide adequate separation prior to landing.
Clearly I believe that G-AA radio calls leave something to be desired, but was I completely innocent? I have flown a reasonable amount of formation flying, but in this case was I too happy about being so close to G-AA, should I have orbited earlier to provide separation, although with another aircraft joining behind this was not without its problems. Should I have completed my OHJ as per my radio call, even if this meant losing site of G-AA.
Although close to G-AA I was comfortable with my position in the knowledge that I could use the OHJ to provide the separation required prior to landing. As we were approaching the ATZ another aircraft called also joining from the South. At this point G-AA started to descend, this seemed in order as she was still above OHJ height, however the decent appeared to become more rapid and she quickly passed through the OHJ height. I did not want to lose sight of G-AA so rapidly reduced power to avoid her disappearing under the nose.
It now became obvious the G-AA has decided to convert to a crosswind join without any radio call and levelled off at circuit height, by now I was starting to gain rapidly as I was flying a significantly heavier aircraft and the inertia from the rapid dive had been converted to speed. I virtually overtook G-AA downwind and was forced to fly at an uncomfortably slow airspeed until G-AA turned base, I was then able to extend my downwind leg to provide adequate separation prior to landing.
Clearly I believe that G-AA radio calls leave something to be desired, but was I completely innocent? I have flown a reasonable amount of formation flying, but in this case was I too happy about being so close to G-AA, should I have orbited earlier to provide separation, although with another aircraft joining behind this was not without its problems. Should I have completed my OHJ as per my radio call, even if this meant losing site of G-AA.
Roy - http://www.gbakw.co.uk