CAT 4 - Right Pattern RWY 30?

Questions and comments about the PE Pilot Training Program
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toby23
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon May 08, 2017 4:03 pm

CAT 4 - Right Pattern RWY 30?

Post by toby23 »

While flying the CAT-4 from KSBP to KSMX, I was cleared to land and enter the Right Downwind Pattern for Runway 30 at KSMX.
According to the VFR sectional below, KSMX shows RP for runways 2 and 12 only.
ksmx.PNG
ksmx.PNG (163.14 KiB) Viewed 2142 times
Can anyone explain why I was cleared for Right Downwind Pattern? (I was expecting a Left Downwind Pattern).
Can the Tower change the pattern entry? What would be a reason for doing that?

Thanks,
Toby
Keith Smith
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Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 8:38 pm
Location: Pompton Plains, NJ
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Re: CAT 4 - Right Pattern RWY 30?

Post by Keith Smith »

The published pattern direction only applies if the tower is closed. Otherwise, when the tower is present, they can assign any pattern direction they like. It's often based on the direction from which you're arriving, or based on other traffic in the pattern at the time.
toby23
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon May 08, 2017 4:03 pm

Re: CAT 4 - Right Pattern RWY 30?

Post by toby23 »

Thanks Keith.
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