Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being better pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 06.19.06

You're on downwind and see an airplane on a three-mile final. You know you've got time to land ahead of the other airplane... but who has the right-of-way?

FAR 91.113 tells us:

Aircraft on final approach to land or while landing have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface.

The regulation warns pilots not to take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway that has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach. In other words, if you're landing closely behind another airplane, give it time to clear the runway before you touch down. Go around if necessary.

In the scenario above, then, the airplane on three-mile final still has the right-of-way, and you should extend your pattern to follow it in (even if you think you can "sneak in" ahead of it). You might instead make a 360 degree turn where you are on downwind, careful to warn and avoid others that might be behind you, so you don't end up forced to make a three-mile final yourself.

Low approach

When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right-of-way. Again, the regs warn pilot not to take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land or to overtake that aircraft. Don't drop a couple hundred feet to "give yourself the right of way." Show some courtesy, even if it's a minor inconvenience to you.

IFR arrival

What if you (or the other plane) are flying an instrument approach at a tower-controlled airport? The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) says:

A clearance for an approach (including a Straight-in Approach) to an aircraft operating on an IFR flight plan does not mean that landing priority is given over other traffic. Because of local traffic or runway in use, a different landing sequence may be necessary in the interest of safety. Controllers will issue a landing sequence to each aircraft as soon as possible to enable the pilot to properly adjust the aircraft's flight path.

Barring controller directives the airplane on final approach, and then the airplane at a lower altitude, has the right of way.

NOTE: An aircraft in distress, i.e., has declared an emergency, has priority at all times.

Aero-tip of the day: Use common sense and give the other guy (or gal) the right-of-way if they're ahead of you in the pattern, or flying at a lower altitude. You don't want to "play chicken" in an airplane.

FMI: Aero-Tips