PilotEdge Forums

What exactly is 'Low Approach', one of the options ATC gives you on pattern training?

Thanks,
Sabre.

LOW APPROACH- An approach over an airport or runway following an instrument approach or a VFR approach including the go - around maneuver where the pilot intentionally does not make contact with the runway.

What are the radiocoms for the both, Low approach and T&G, from 'Cleared for the option' on?

Thanks,
Sabre.

Sabre wrote:What are the radiocoms for the both, Low approach and T&G, from 'Cleared for the option' on?

Thanks,
Sabre.

Guys, really need your suggestions and requirements here. Again, please quote radiocomms examples for Low approach and Touch & Go from the moment of 'Cleared for the option" by Tower onward, these are important basics.

Thanks,
Sabre.

They are just what they sound like. "Cleared touch and go" "Cleared low approach at or above xxx" etc. Much like any other clearance.

Alex Stjepanovic wrote:They are just what they sound like. "Cleared touch and go" "Cleared low approach at or above xxx" etc. Much like any other clearance.

So there's no reports like 'On the go' etc? How about "Going around"?

Sabre.

Not sure what you mean there? 'On the go' is more of a "phraseology" to tell the plane what he is to do once completing this option(eg "On the go, make a left crosswind departure").

Short on time, but here's a video (requires DIVX) of several laps around a pattern. Hopefully you'll get a feel for the radio calls (or lack of, compared to what you might be expecting): http://keith.tristesse.com/object/pattern_work.html

If you're cleared for an operation, you acknowledge the clearance, but there's no need to later report DOING the operation (if that makes sense). That's probably the best way I can think to distill it down to a single sentence.

Thanks for the video, I'm going through it.

Sabre.

There are a few things you can do coming down onto a runway:

• Land
• Touch and Go
• Stop and Go
• Low Approach

If you're cleared for the option then you can do either one. All you really need to respond with is the runway number and your tail number.

Them: "Cessna 3AB, cleared for the option runway 27 right"
You: "27 right, 3AB"

"Go around" is something you do when you're not comfortable with the landing, so you abort it and go around again. It can be the pilot's decision, or the controller can tell you to do it.

"Short approach" is when you somewhat combine your base and final legs and just fly to the numbers from your shortened downwind leg. If you aren't comfortable, tell the tower "unable" and they'll probably have you go around.