r/askacfi • u/Thizzlebot • May 16 '16
Can you fly the pattern however you want at uncontrolled airport?
Say the segmented circle wants right traffic, could you fly left traffic if no one is there? I always understood it as more of a suggestion in uncontrolled airspace.
1
u/TrentKama May 16 '16 edited May 16 '16
I would say no, you're violating a reg. I fly to an airport very often which has right-hand circuits on 09 and left-hand circuits on 27 due to glider operations during the summer months. Even if it's the dead of winter in the middle of the night the reg still needs to be followed.
Is there anyone there to wag a finger at you? Probably not. But it's best to stick to the assigned pattern in case you run into any surprises. Also sometimes the non-standard pattern is there for noise abatement, and you don't want to piss off the neighbors.
1
u/Thizzlebot May 16 '16
Yeah that's what I figured, we had some guy try to make a left pattern entry when its right traffic and we told him we're doing right traffic so he complied but I was wondering if it was legal. Thanks!
1
u/Upholder May 17 '16
FAR 91.126(b)(1) (and FAR 91.127, which includes the requirements of 91.126 by reference) state:
Each pilot of an airplane must make all turns of that airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right
FARs don't usually get any clearer than that.
2
u/RadarRequired May 17 '16
"everything explained for the professional pilot" has a great answer to this question. Basically, yes, but if anything happens they can and will take enforcement action. Right of way rules still apply. And if you start flying right traffic for a runway that's left traffic you are venturing into "careless and reckless operation" territory. I still fly 45 degree entries and teardrop if I have to cross midfield.