Report 3 mile right base

[AuntPeggy]

Report 3 mile right base for runway 24
If I'm coming in on a 195* heading toward the final approach from 10 miles away, am I supposed to

a) maintain the 195* until 3 miles from the airport, then turn base, call, and expect a 3 mile final

b) turn to 240* and intercept an extended right base somewhere 6 miles from the airport and call in when I'm 3 miles away perpendicular to the final approach

c) maintain the 195* until 3 miles from the airport, call, then continue to maintain the 195* until intercepting right base

d) something else

 

[EdFred]

Base leg is 3 miles from the threshold, intercept it somewhere along the base leg. Call him about 30 second before you make your turn to final.

 

[Areeda]

Make right base means enter a normal right base. Depending on my position that will be perpendicular to the final course and when I turn final I'll be 1 or 2 miles out.

Report 3 miles means when I'm about 3 miles from the airport boundary. I'll be on base and the 3 miles is the distance if I turned direct to the airport.

Joe

 

[poadeleted20]

I'd go with the first half of a) (maintain the 195* until 3 miles from the airport, then turn base, call), but you'll end up on about a 1.5-2 mile final by doing that (draw it out and you'll see what I mean).

 

[Clark1961]

At BJC it means something closer to b) than the others but there is no need to turn to 240. Just plan to intercept a normal base leg course about 3 miles out. At that point join the extended base leg and report.

As always, YMMV and perhaps other airport's controllers have other ideas.

 

[Henning]

Report 3 mile right base for runway 24
If I'm coming in on a 195* heading toward the final approach from 10 miles away, am I supposed to

a) maintain the 195* until 3 miles from the airport, then turn base, call, and expect a 3 mile final

b) turn to 240* and intercept an extended right base somewhere 6 miles from the airport and call in when I'm 3 miles away perpendicular to the final approach

c) maintain the 195* until 3 miles from the airport, call, then continue to maintain the 195* until intercepting right base

d) something else

Fly whatever course required to intercept the intersection of the 24 right downwind and base 3 miles out from the threshold. When you hit this intersection, you turn to 150 and make your call and fly to final.

 

[gismo]

Fly whatever course required to intercept the intersection of the 24 right downwind and base 3 miles out from the threshold. When you hit this intersection, you turn to 150 and make your call and fly to final.

Some of you are making this way too complicated. The 3 mile call is just to give the controller a heads up that you're about to enter the pattern if he hasn't spotted you by then. The rest of the instruction is intended to have you enter the pattern on a right base. The tower DOES NOT expect you to plot out the intersection of any imaginary lines in space and they aren't going to be concerned if your report comes a mile early.

 

[Henning]

Some of you are making this way too complicated. The 3 mile call is just to give the controller a heads up that you're about to enter the pattern if he hasn't spotted you by then. The rest of the instruction is intended to have you enter the pattern on a right base. The tower DOES NOT expect you to plot out the intersection of any imaginary lines in space and they aren't going to be concerned if your report comes a mile early.

I don't plot it, just a "Runway there, aim there" thing.

 

[silver-eagle]

Some of you are making this way too complicated. The 3 mile call is just to give the controller a heads up that you're about to enter the pattern if he hasn't spotted you by then. The rest of the instruction is intended to have you enter the pattern on a right base. The tower DOES NOT expect you to plot out the intersection of any imaginary lines in space and they aren't going to be concerned if your report comes a mile early.

You're right and if he's busy, he'll appreciate an early call rather than a late call. On the other hand, I did have one rather busy controller chew someone out for being too early.