'in the vicinity of'

‘in the vicinity of’

Friday, November 17, 2023 at 11:00 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Pilots express concern over the regulatory ambiguity of common right-turn pattern entry methods, citing FARs 91.126/91.127 which generally require left turns in airport vicinities without a clear FAA definition of "vicinity."
The article emphasizes the need for clearer, more precise FAA guidance on pattern entry procedures, including specific distances ("well clear," "approx. 2 mi") and acknowledging multiple recommended methods from documents like AC 90-66C.
Real-world examples highlight safety risks and potential midair conflicts arising from unclear or improperly executed pattern entries, leading to calls for pilots to provide formal feedback to the FAA for clarification.

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Thank you for publishing my recent note about traffic pattern entry in your November issue, which originated with October’s article “Parallel Runway Traps.” You gave me an answer, but sorry to say, I’m not satisfied with it.

While I think the overflight followed by a right 270-degree turn to enter left traffic is an excellent and safe method to enter the pattern, I think your answer that the right turn is not performed in the pattern misses the mark.