Now, Bruce, I just need to convince the DE of that
Here was his email response to my comments along the lines of that above:
Time to (shudder) look a the TERPS manual & see if it has any references. I really would perfer not ratteling the Regional Counsel right yet.
(From Charlie)
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Thanks for the link and discussion about the circle thing. I do know that there are many references out there that overtly condone or perhaps just suggest that it is OK to circle in conflict with the traffic pattern. The real issue is what is written in the FAR. The AIM is not regulatory, neither is Trevor Thoms book or any other source except the FAR.
91.126 Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class G airspace.
(a) General. Unless otherwise authorized or required, each person operating an aircraft on or in the vicinity of an airport in a Class G airspace area must comply with the requirements of this section.
(b) Direction of turns. When approaching to land at an airport without an operating control tower in Class G airspace—
(1) Each pilot of an airplane
must make all turns of that airplane to the left unless the airport displays approved light signals or visual markings indicating that turns should be made to the right, in which case the pilot must make all turns to the right; and
(2) Each pilot of a helicopter or a powered parachute must avoid the flow of fixed-wing aircraft.
91.127 Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class E airspace.
(a) Unless otherwise required by part 93 of this chapter or unless otherwise authorized or required by the ATC facility having jurisdiction over the Class E airspace area, each person operating an aircraft on or in the vicinity of an airport in a Class E airspace area
must comply with the requirements of §91.126.
(b) Departures. Each pilot of an aircraft must comply with any traffic patterns established for that airport in part 93 of this chapter.
Since I am only an examiner now, I do not spend as much time dissecting regs as I used to. There may be some other reference but I don’t know about it. The way I understand it, this is the only regulatory guidance on the matter. I can think of several situations where I would circle opposite for safety of flight reasons, I would be illegal doing so however, and would be open to violation, suspension, and/or civil prosecution if push came to shove. Old Dutch was a real character (still is) When someone would speak of interpreting a regulation, he would remind us that there is no “interpretation” of regulations. You just do what they say. If you don’t understand what they say, then keep reading until it makes sense, which it eventually will.
Regards
Charlie