When do you begin your descent?

My descent to pattern altitude is usually so slow that by the time I get to the pattern I'm just hitting it. I dont like flying low at all.. too many bumps.
 
gitmo234 said:
My descent to pattern altitude is usually so slow that by the time I get to the pattern I'm just hitting it. I dont like flying low at all.. too many bumps.
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I have my 496 vertical descent profile set to take me down at 500 fpm to 1,500' above the destination airport elevation 3 miles out. That way I'm set up to overfly the airport about 500' above the TPA before descending to the pattern.

That way I usually just fly the "faux glideslope" - makes it pretty easy-peasy.

Terrain and clouds permitting, of course.
 
FastEddieB said:
I have my 496 vertical descent profile set to take me down at 500 fpm to 1,500' above the destination airport elevation 3 miles out. That way I'm set up to overfly the airport about 500' above the TPA before descending to the pattern.

That way I usually just fly the "faux glideslope" - makes it pretty easy-peasy.

Terrain and clouds permitting, of course.
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You mean right into the 1500 pattern flown by turbines and the like? ;)

I set up to be at TPA two miles out, then I can drop down a little bit, and pick out anyone at pattern altitude against the sky rather than ground clutter. Also, that way I don't have to turn my back to the airport and lose a visual on all the traffic I just looked for.
 
timwinters said:
Three miles max for me, descending too soon makes it much harder to find the field if I'm unfamiliar with the area. Sure, I have GPS to help locate it but...

...there are also addl risks imposed by only being 1,000' AGL (assuming flatland) for 10 miles. Doesn't give one many options if the fan stops.

I prefer to wait until the last minute and only arrive at pattern altitude with just enough time to properly scan the pattern for NORDO traffic before entering it myself.

But, as always, to each his/her own...I just prefer to wait until the last minute...literally.
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I go for that! Ten miles out at pattern altitude is asking for big trouble. I usually don't come down to pattern altitude until I spot the field in the distance and I'm on the radio from that point on, being brief but stating where I am and what I intend to do. I'm always very nervous about the straight in crowd and watch carefully for them, especially the ones who are too macho to use their radio or do use it trying to sound like an aged airline type so that you cannot understand them.
 
Airplanes were meant to fly in circles, not squares... in other words... when it's time and not one second before....:D
 
JohnWF said:
Talking to local pilots I get different views on this: You are in the traffic pattern, say just entering downwind leg at pattern altitude. When do you began you descent to the runway? Only on final, when turning base, or somewhat when on downwind? I get various views.

Your view?
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Depends on two things; 1. Aircraft 2. Airport. In my case more often than not, when I turn base, however I do at the numbers often enough. Or when the tower instructs me to turn base (and I don't see any conflicts). Once (when I was a student) my CFI, cut engine power, when I was midfield L downwind and said "you lost your engine , get the airplane safely on the ground". I did, and "soloed "shortly after that.

Cheers
 
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Abeam the threshold I cut power and start trimming for descent speed. It is settled into that speed and beginning to descend shortly before turning base. A little less than half of the pattern altitude is bled off about the time I'm turning final.

This of course will vary depending on wind conditions.

Hope this helps.
 
Context is all. At my airport the downwind is over a high parallel ridge. Descent is really only possible on base or base to final. Otherwise over flat ground abeam the runway end on downwind.
 
I was taught to always stay just a hair over the glide path to be able to glide it to the runway if the fan quits... The descent begins when I feel that I am above the glide path regardless of the pattern entry...

With that said, 10:37 into this video is my favorite (to watch) descent method - http://youtu.be/uRz6JpPrESE
 
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igorek82 said:
I was taught to always stay just a hair over the glide path to be able to glide it to the runway if the fan quits... The descent begins when I feel that I am above the glide path regardless of the pattern entry...

With that said, 10:37 into this video is my favorite (to watch) descent method - http://youtu.be/uRz6JpPrESE
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I used to land like that at John Wayne, but tower got upset with me, so I stopped. :goofy:
 
Short final......


Kick it sideways in a hard slip, drop it like a rock over the fence straighten it up and grease the wheels...
 
In a DA-40:

*90kt on downwind, deploy t/o flaps abeam the numbers and begin my descend, about 300fpm-500fpm (depending on wind)

* Turn base when runway is at a 45*

* Slow to 80kt on base, deploy ldg flaps

* Turn final about 3 miles out, use wind correction(shallow or steep), slow to 75kt

* Land at 71kt
 
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