A little low... No?

How far away is the nearest airport...and is it EVB?? Your profile indicates you’re in New Smyrna Beach.

If so, traffic pattern altitude for light aircraft is 788’ AGL...and they can be lower if on approach or departing a runway:

Ok...so let’s explore that...

If the pilot is landing/departing Rwy 18, his pattern will be to the East of the airport; if landing/departing on Rwy 36, his pattern will be to the West of the airport.

Here’s an example of a left-hand pattern:

IF (let’s say) the pilot was departing Rwy 18 he would not turn crosswind until at least 400’ AGL...and if he was doing a 45 departure he would ideally be climbing from 400’ AGL to whatever his next desired altitude would be.

His speed might be low as well as there are trees 725’ off the end of Rwy 18.

If he stayed in the pattern his crosswind climb would likely be from 400’AGL to about 800’ AGL before turning downwind...

He could also be practicing engine-out procedures (that’s a light twin in the photo) on departure, which really limits rate of climb.

Another possibility is that he’s ferrying parachute jumpers and is heavy so his climbout speed and rate of climb are limited...

Of course, he could also just be an idiot LOL...

And the moral of this story is ....... always be prepared for the unexpected! ???

rangemaster728 said:

Ok...so let’s explore that...

If the pilot is landing/departing Rwy 18, his pattern will be to the East of the airport; if landing/departing on Rwy 36, his pattern will be to the West of the airport.

Here’s an example of a left-hand pattern:

IF (let’s say) the pilot was departing Rwy 18 he would not turn crosswind until at least 400’ AGL...and if he was doing a 45 departure he would ideally be climbing from 400’ AGL to whatever his next desired altitude would be.

His speed might be low as well as there are trees 725’ off the end of Rwy 18.

If he stayed in the pattern his crosswind climb would likely be from 400’AGL to about 800’ AGL before turning downwind...

He could also be practicing engine-out procedures (that’s a light twin in the photo) on departure, which really limits rate of climb.

Another possibility is that he’s ferrying parachute jumpers and is heavy so his climbout speed and rate of climb are limited...

Of course, he could also just be an idiot LOL...

Click to expand...

Nice diagram, great reference for something else that comes to mind! “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle activity 3 miles at your 9:00 position . . . . .” Where would you look?

itsneedtokno said:

View attachment 113813

If I got the right angle, and if I was using 108mp, you may have been able to read the tail numbers.

Click to expand...

I’m more intrigued by the black circle
Around the window in the middle building
If u expand the pic u will see what I mean

theDRONEranger said:

Nice diagram, great reference for something else that comes to mind! “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle activity 3 miles at your 9:00 position . . . . .” Where would you look?

Click to expand...

Left

JohnnyD913 said:

Left

Click to expand...

But what if you are facing south. Actually, the portion of the question was just that, a portion of it! It was incomplete.

theDRONEranger said:

Nice diagram, great reference for something else that comes to mind! “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle activity 3 miles at your 9:00 position . . . . .” Where would you look?

Click to expand...

IF that advisory was given by an air traffic controller to a manned aircraft in flight (let’s assume fixed-wing, not helicopter as they change directions really quick) the answer “Left” is correct as a controller knows from the radar track what your 12 o’clock would be....

If a controller could tell you were in the traffic pattern The instruction would likely be something like this: “unmanned aerial vehicle activity 3 miles to the east/west/whatever of the airport “...

Whether listed as RH traffic or is LH traffic it is not a law, it is only recommended to manned aircraft that this is the preferred/recommended traffic pattern. They actually don't have to follow that flight pattern. If an aircraft was low on fuel, they could approach from the right at a left pattern airport.

I have also heard, from a few actual pilots, that at non-towered airports, pilots are not required to announce anything at all if they don't feel like it.

Seems a little ridiculous not to though...

It is important to note that some airports have traffic patterns dictated by obstructions/terrain:


Example: this airport has left traffic for Rwy 30, right traffic for Rwy 12 due to rapidly rising terrain to the east (KLS altitude is 20’; rapidly rising terrain w/tower to the east to 1562’).



More than one pilot has paid the ultimate price at Kelso for ignoring this...

And in addition - I would not recommend going against published/recommended procedures on a fight test/BFR ... the examiner can bust you on it.

In an actual emergency/precautionary landing scenario all bets are off; the PIC is authorized to deviate from the rules to cope with the problem.