A friendly reminder to those that fly into CYXX

[KAG]

I was doing red eyes a few weeks back into CYXX, when we arrive and depart there always seems to be students doing night circuits (these students are not from CYXX). We watched a couple students make a classic but potentially fatal mistake – right hand circuits when it should have been left hand patterns on runway 19 - and that places them no more then 400 feet above the terrain to the west of the field. I actually said something to them over the radio about left hand patterns as the tower was closed, and FSS guy cannot correct their mistake (but sure can write a cadoors).
Not trying to get anyone in trouble (the opposite infact) I just don’t want to see anyone killed.

So make sure your joining the correct pattern when arriving at an MF or ATF field and if someone is already established in the pattern and they are doing it incorrectly, question them on it don’t just follow along.

[SkyWolfe]

Is it that hard to read a CFS?

[Hedley]

One must wonder about these student's instructors.

[Big Pistons Forever]

KAG:
It is great to see you making the effort to pass along important safety info. I wish more folks would do the same

SkyWolfe:

I am pretty sure that the instructor of these students told them to read the CFS so I would suggest a more relavent question is why were they still on the wrong side of the runway ? And since this is a forum specifically devoted flight training; is there anything instructors could do to improve training so that the students won't make this kind of mistake.

One suggestion would be when planning a dual night X country try to plan one stop at an airport which has a circuit restriction due to terrain. Ask them why you can't fly on the other side and then get them to figure out how little terrain clearance they would have. When you actually do the flight, make a specific effort when you are in the circuit, to point out how at night or in low vis how hard it is to see the obstructions and how easy it would be to get very low to the ground without necessarily realizing it. I realize this may not be practicable for all areas but for the lower mainland YXX is perfect for this exercise.

[Youngback]

This sort of thing is going on in Alberta as well. A well known commercial operator is flying into the nearby airport at all hours of the day and night and some of their pilots are doing right downwinds just because it is more convenient. Not only is it pissing the people in town off (as R/H circuits puts the town directly underneath and my company is getting the blame) but it also puts them close to a radio tower at night and interferes with other aircraft trying to turn out to the left. Common sense isn't quite so common anymore.

[E-Flyer]

Is it that hard to read a CFS?

It must not be emphasized enough in the ground school LOL

[SkyWolfe]

Well, I don't remember any instructor not telling me to read a CFS. I think the instructors aren't the problem completely.

Its lame... but you know what helped me? I would draw out my airports no matter where they where and draw out the circuits on them, and then show them to my instructors... I would easily confuse myself.. hehehe I would also draw out where I may enter the circuit... and at night, what I would see (ie streets etc)... Maybe if that was more emphasized??? I dunno...
Maybe some people just want a license and don't really care... I don't want anyone to get hurt like KAG said.


Wolfie

[MichaelP]

I asked my instructors how they do their joins after hours... Not guilty

One night we were following another school's aircraft into Chilliwack. It's pilot reported he was going to land on 25...
I told my student we'll slow down a bit and let the Cessna go first.
I try to impress upon the students an awareness of where the wind is coming from at all times.
If you have an engine failure at night, it might be all you can do to turn into the wind, and perhaps turn the landing light on, and then off if what you see doesn't look inviting!
The Cessna could not get down, and went around.
We went for 07 and passing the malls at the end of the downwind, a wind check using the flag there confirmed the runway for us.

[xsbank]

"Cross over midfield (look at the drift! and check over the aeropuerto), join downwind left/right..."

[Invertago]

Its lame... but you know what helped me? I would draw out my airports no matter where they where and draw out the circuits on them, and then show them to my instructors...
Wolfie

Not lame at all, a little prep on the ground can save a lot headache in the air. I get all my students to draw out little maps of each airport they will fly to including draw the circuit in the picture. When you're learning, it can be easier to visualize the big picture when you see your hand drawn airport circuit rather then a bookmarked CFS page and the small text warning of a right circuit for rwy 11 or something.

[maryclaire]

I agree with SkyWolfe and Invertago... when I was starting my IFR training, I'd do something similar for holds too. Think POD then draw it out a couple minutes ahead, so when you get to the fix you know what way to turn. Visualizing the big picture is key.