Genghis9
Captain
United States
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Irate Retro Posted at 2017-9-24 19:42
In which case he's not allowed to fly in their airspace anyway without getting permission and waiting for the response. Approach is not going to vector you around at 500' AGL. If they clear you for the visual it will be higher than that, and you are not allowed to descend below the glide path. If there's PAPI or VASI lights (which is almost always), then the pilot can't dip below and claim he didn't know he was below. That's why I did the math above assuming 3 degrees.
As for crop dusters coming into the field for a straight-in at a constant altitude below pattern altitude; I can't say I've seen that. But I'd believe anything, especially when they think nobody is looking. I'd report it if I saw it. VFR straight-ins are bad enough at uncontrolled fields, but dragging it in below pattern alt is ridiculous. If you're turning base you've got almost no chance of seeing that guy against the ground. I hope the guy is at least talking. Agreed TCA/ATC/Tower is not going to clear or vector a straight-in below MSA/MDA.
However, with respect to the glide path restrictions, unless I'm missing something that appears to only apply to Large or Turbine-powered Aircraft flying to an airport in Class D airspace.
CFR 14 Part §91.129 Operations in Class D airspace.
(e) Minimum altitudes when operating to an airport in Class D airspace. (1) Unless required by the applicable distance-from-cloud criteria, each pilot operating a large or turbine-powered airplane must enter the traffic pattern at an altitude of at least 1,500 feet above the elevation of the airport and maintain at least 1,500 feet until further descent is required for a safe landing.
(2) Each pilot operating a large or turbine-powered airplane approaching to land on a runway served by an instrument approach procedure with vertical guidance, if the airplane is so equipped, must:
(i) Operate that airplane at an altitude at or above the glide path between the published final approach fix and the decision altitude (DA), or decision height (DH), as applicable; or
(ii) If compliance with the applicable distance-from-cloud criteria requires glide path interception closer in, operate that airplane at or above the glide path, between the point of interception of glide path and the DA or the DH.
(3) Each pilot operating an airplane approaching to land on a runway served by a visual approach slope indicator must maintain an altitude at or above the glide path until a lower altitude is necessary for a safe landing.
(4) Paragraphs (e)(2) and (e)(3) of this section do not prohibit normal bracketing maneuvers above or below the glide path that are conducted for the purpose of remaining on the glide path.
EDIT: sorry, I forgot one exception in sub para (e)(3) if VASIs are installed, which you wont normallly find at small uncontrolled airfields.
Per §91.126 Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class G airspace. and §91.127 Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class E airspace. neither states any like requirement as noted for airfield ops in Class D. I'm sure Class B & C will be equal or more restrictive than Class D.
Technically a crop duster flying in to a Class G or E airfield could conduct a straight-in starting at 500' AGL. The only directive is that all turns be to the left, unless otherwise marked on the field. Factoring in a Class G or E field approach at other than a straight-in would likely need to be at least 1000' AGL assuming it is in a low populated area, such as rural or farm and there is no Tower in operation and not taking in to account VFR flight altitude requirements.
CFR 14 Part §1.1 General definitions. defines: "Large aircraft means aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds, maximum certificated takeoff weight."
I stand to be corrected?
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