Time for the daily nag about the approach pattern – this time with visual aids.

Recently received a real-world example involving 2 pilots approaching at the same time. Perfectly illustrates why sticking to the approach pattern (and keeping PG and HG traffic separate) is so important. HG approach in black and PG approach in red:

If the HG didn’t drastically alter his approach (and they mentioned that they were already pushing it to make the LZ with the amount of altitude they had left) – and that assumes that the pilot would have the skills to make such an alteration in their approach – that whole area in the northeast corner of the LZ would have been mid-air central.

Please please please – whatever wing you fly – stick to the approach and keep an eye out for your fellow pilots.