Overshooting on downwind side... dangerous

[g_goo_goo]

Scary thing happened the other day. I was on downwind when someone was executing a go-around and instead of doing it on the upwind side, he did it on downwind. I saw him in the nick of time as he climbed past me. When i got back I saw the guy getting a talking to from an instructor but his comment was "I didn't do anything wrong". That to me is scary in itself...

[ywgflyboy]

I have always thought go-arounds should be included more in training/talked about. This can be a dangerous sitaution in certain cases. Example:Going missed on short final because of slow departing aircraft, making sure you stay clear of the climbing out aircraft.

[Bushav8er]

Am I missing something? Moving to the upwind side is wrong too. A go-around is; use the radio, runway heading, climb to about 500 feet, left turn continue climb and reach circuit altitude before joining the downwind leg, (if left hand circuits) rejoin downwind for normal circuit. (missed is similar except as published). If traffic's an issue, extend before turning left. What do you do for a touch and go? Go-around/over-shoot is the same except you don't touch ground. Take off/ climb out runway heading, rejoin the circuit.

Climbing upwind or downwind can interfere with traffic - what about the guy entering the cross wind for downwind?

I'm not saying the guy was correct.

Sounds more like he was to zealous in his turn for downwind and did it to soon. Did he call the over-shoot? Did you see him on his approach, was he making his calls? Right of way also comes into play.

[matt777]

I'm also really confused when you say "instead of doing it on the upwind side"...I think I might be missing something too

[iflyforpie]

For those who are confused, imagine the reason for the overshoot. If it is because somebody pulled out in front of you and is taking off, there is going to be a conflict as he climbs and perhaps turns into the pattern. Generally a 'side step' to keep him visual is a better bet than doing an opposite pattern though...

For those confused with the terminology, generally 'downwind' means the side of the runway with the active circuit and 'upwind' means the opposite side...

[Bushav8er]

For those who are confused, imagine the reason for the overshoot. If it is because somebody pulled out in front of you and is taking off, there is going to be a conflict as he climbs and perhaps turns into the pattern.

Good point and fair. In this case I would agree with moving to the upwind side, but only slightly, to keep the departing traffic in sight, runway heading, follow him to downwind (or watch him depart). It does beg the question(s)...was the guys approach spacing sufficient? Did the guy on the taxiway/runway make calls? Sounds like a combination of errors, comm being one of them.

[g_goo_goo]

What actually happened was he lost sight of final and was a little disoriented and was instructed to overshoot (we could see him turn final but not lined up with the runway, the sun must of caught his eye); and obviously did the overshoot on the downwind side; I would say he blindly climbed up to circuit altitude to look for the pattern. You are correct by saying that you should use the heading of the runway, but he was definitely going in the wrong direction downwind. I was doing a circuit and had about 200ft horiz / 100ft vert separation when he wizzed by. There were other aircraft on downwind, so they must have been shocked as well.

[Bushav8er]

Thanks for the clarification. That would have been a 'situation' for sure. Good example of why heads have to be on pivots and radios used.

[B-rad]

I agree with side stepping to the upwind side, just as you would for a field inspection. it allows you to keep an eye on the runway while avoiding the active patern. If another airplane was departing the runway that caused your over shoot then you will have them in your sight rather then having them climb below you.

[niss]

I was always told to side step as well, also because assuming there is an a/c on the rwy or short final you are overtaking them so you move to the right. With the Right Hand circuits this puts us on the down wind side. As long as you are not way way over and keep your head on a swivel you should be fine.

[nightbird]

I agree with side stepping to the upwind side, just as you would for a field inspection. it allows you to keep an eye on the runway while avoiding the active patern. If another airplane was departing the runway that caused your over shoot then you will have them in your sight rather then having them climb below you.

On a right hand circuit you should move to the left, the idea is to stay on the "dead side" of the circuit with the traffic climbing on sight.

[niss]

I agree with side stepping to the upwind side, just as you would for a field inspection. it allows you to keep an eye on the runway while avoiding the active patern. If another airplane was departing the runway that caused your over shoot then you will have them in your sight rather then having them climb below you.

On a right hand circuit you should move to the left, the idea is to stay on the "dead side" of the circuit with the traffic climbing on sight.

And what about when overtaking an aircraft on short final?

[Geo]

I agree with side stepping to the upwind side, just as you would for a field inspection. it allows you to keep an eye on the runway while avoiding the active patern. If another airplane was departing the runway that caused your over shoot then you will have them in your sight rather then having them climb below you.

On a right hand circuit you should move to the left, the idea is to stay on the "dead side" of the circuit with the traffic climbing on sight.

Current student here, and I'm wondering about something:

If you're flying from the left hand seat, your visibility to the right and down is pretty limited. A side-step to the left (if that's the "dead side") might need to be pretty large to be able to see the runway from that side, if its possible at all from more than 100-200 feet up.

Which is more important? Visibility of the traffic below, or staying away from the side of the field with the circuit?

g

[nightbird]

And what about when overtaking an aircraft on short final?

I you are overtaking an airplane on short final that means he is below you so I'm not sure if the rule of passing to the right applies on this case maybe someone can explain that. Now, if you breake to the right (in this case the downwind side) you will be climbing towards the oncoming traffic on downwind, that could be very dangerous, they won't be able to see you and you will be going straight for a head-on collision. Where I fly there's 4 to 5 airplanes on the circuit almost all the time so climbing on the downwind side would be a suicide, it's like driving on the opposite lane on the highway.

[nightbird]

.
Which is more important? Visibility of the traffic below, or staying away from the side of the field with the circuit?
g

Avoid a collision at all cost it doesn't matter how far you have to go keep an eye on the guy climbing below you and stay away from the traffic on downwind.

[B-rad]

if the pattern was right hand circuits, personally I would still side step to the right of the runway. My most important thought is keeping an eye on where the danger lies. Even if this meant going into the downwind side on a right hand pattern or overtaking an aircraft on final. I don't think anyone is doing circuits so close that they are over the runway edge

[niss]

Exactly, and once you overtake them you can move back over the runway centreline. You are not running out into the middle of the downwind and staying there.