Non-towered Longmont Airport (KLMO) had one RNAV 28 instrument approach. It’s not unusual to have five airplanes in the pattern. On this particular VFR day, one was lifting off from a touch-and-go, another was on crosswind, the third neared midfield downwind, another turned from downwind to base, and another airplane was on short final. In addition to the airplanes in the traffic pattern, there were two aircraft practicing approaches on the RNAV 28 approach. One RNAV pilot was flying to minimums followed by a circle-to-land. The other pilot was flying to minimums and continuing for a touch-and-go landing.
Who has the right-of-way—the traffic pattern aircraft or the RNAV approach practicing aircraft? The AIM is very explicit on how to enter a non-towered traffic pattern. However, the AIM, based upon my research, doesn’t address the synchronizing of traffic pattern aircraft and practicing instrument approach aircraft.
