Closed pattern: Best time to turn X-wind?

[pilotyip]

400' Agl

The turn should be a 400' AGL, or the end of the runway which ever comes last. Unless there is another A/C in the pattern on the downwind, then the turn is started when the airplane is abeam. A Cessna 150 in the summer would be in the next county before it got to pattern altitude. Pet peeve of mine, is the airplane that logs X-C time in the patern, 3 mile X-winds, where you are not even sure this guy is in the pattern, must be pilot training to be B-747 pilots.

 

[imacdog]

Did anyone else notice in this thread that the recommended procedure in the AIM is quoted in post #5?

 

[avbug]

Did anyone else notice in this thread that the recommended procedure in the AIM is quoted in post #5?

Yes, but the question embodied in the title of the thread is not the FAA's recommendation, but "best time to turn xwind."

The answer is, of course, that it depends on the circumstance.

 

[imacdog]

I think the circumstance was pretty clear in the thread title: "Closed pattern", not "crop dusting"

 

[avbug]

I wasn't talking about crop dusting.

The circumstances dictate. Even in a closed pattern.

 

[unreal]

Well, flying today, another pilot in the pattern told the tower that I was "long" as seemed a little pissed off about it.

Had the same type of thing happen once. I was doing a pre-solo training flight with a student, and I was having him turn crosswind 300' below TPA. All of a sudden, another aircraft from the parallel runway (we were on the right) drifts in front of us and makes a right turn, basically cutting us off. I mentioned on to tower what'd happened, to which the pilot of the other aircraft responded: "We had the aircraft on the extended upwind in sight. Thanks."

Jerk.

 

[pilotyip]

so what am I hearing in reference to post 5, in my C-150 I should climb to 700'AGL before turning X-wind? Even if that takes me 2 miles off the end of the runway

 

[LarryinTN]

so what am I hearing in reference to post 5, in my C-150 I should climb to 700'AGL before turning X-wind?

No, you should climb to within 300' of the pattern altitude. For a C-150 that would vary from as low as 300' AGL to as high as 700' AGL.

Is it really necessary to over think this? Wouldn't it be easier if pilots actually read the AIM and just followed its guidance?

 

[Joshrk22]

500 feet AGL, works like a charm everytime in the 172.

 

[avbug]

No, you should climb to within 300' of the pattern altitude. For a C-150 that would vary from as low as 300' AGL to as high as 700' AGL.

Is it really necessary to over think this? Wouldn't it be easier if pilots actually read the AIM and just followed its guidance?

Where do you find a recommendation to fly a 600' pattern in a Cessna 150...seems if you're going to advocate adherence to the AIM, then you ought to advocate standard taffic patern altitudes, no?