wawrzynskivp
Well Known Member
I somewhat hesitate to share this experience because these things sometimes come across as whinge-ing.
Single runway non-towered field 14-32. CAVU, light variable winds no particular direction. No wind runway is 32. Three airplanes in pattern with tight interval each for full stop. One airplane at hold short of 14.
#3: XXX Traffic, N### on base full stop runway 32 XXX Traffic
#3: XXX Traffic, N### turning final runway 32 full stop XXX Traffic
Departing AC: XXX Traffic N### departing runway 14
#3 Aircraft taking 14, do you see the airplane on final for 32?
Departing Aircraft: Yes I see you, I am taking off 14
I was #3 watching an airplane begin their roll towards me when I was perhaps 300' off the ground on short final. I should have been lower but had begun my go-around and was beginning to side step the departing traffic.
Right of Way rules are far more than 'who is in the wrong' for any particular situation. They are a guide on how to behave and how to interact long before the conflict is apparent. I have no idea what was inside the individual's mind that set up a head on with landing traffic. But if they were a decent human being and fully understood Right of Way, then I can't see how they would have convinced themselves that not waiting that one more minute was worth it.
If we consider Right of Way to be clearly understandable and not 'confusing' as some people prefer to believe. Then we have a universal guide on how to avoid getting into meeting situations.
I urge anyone who thinks of 91.113 as confusing or vague to get back into those 341 words and read them until you understand them back and forth. Don't cheat yourself or somebody else by the excuses that 'they are badly worded' 'don't apply to every situation' 'contradict what my flight instructor taught me'
Right of way is not about forcing a meeting situation into a close call. Right of way is about not getting into meeting situations. It's about not being a jerk.
I offer this story and perspective because of the number of times certificated aviators give a scenario and ask 'who has the right of way?' If you have to ask, then ask...better than just not knowing. But the volume of questions on this subject is saying something. I also sense a lot of defensiveness and rice bowl thinking when the forum covers right of way. I feel too many people use well intentioned articles, or lectures, or advisory documents on pseudo 'right of way' in place of the actual rules. It takes less than three minutes to read the real thing! There is no substitute for knowing what the law says especially on something that has the potential to become a Time Critical Task on each and every flight. Pushing back on Right of Way by thinking that consideration is a better approach, is an incomplete understanding. We can be the most considerate in our flying by knowing enough about Right of Way that there is never a question in our minds or the minds of those we might otherwise meet.
Single runway non-towered field 14-32. CAVU, light variable winds no particular direction. No wind runway is 32. Three airplanes in pattern with tight interval each for full stop. One airplane at hold short of 14.
#3: XXX Traffic, N### on base full stop runway 32 XXX Traffic
#3: XXX Traffic, N### turning final runway 32 full stop XXX Traffic
Departing AC: XXX Traffic N### departing runway 14
#3 Aircraft taking 14, do you see the airplane on final for 32?
Departing Aircraft: Yes I see you, I am taking off 14
I was #3 watching an airplane begin their roll towards me when I was perhaps 300' off the ground on short final. I should have been lower but had begun my go-around and was beginning to side step the departing traffic.
Right of Way rules are far more than 'who is in the wrong' for any particular situation. They are a guide on how to behave and how to interact long before the conflict is apparent. I have no idea what was inside the individual's mind that set up a head on with landing traffic. But if they were a decent human being and fully understood Right of Way, then I can't see how they would have convinced themselves that not waiting that one more minute was worth it.
If we consider Right of Way to be clearly understandable and not 'confusing' as some people prefer to believe. Then we have a universal guide on how to avoid getting into meeting situations.
I urge anyone who thinks of 91.113 as confusing or vague to get back into those 341 words and read them until you understand them back and forth. Don't cheat yourself or somebody else by the excuses that 'they are badly worded' 'don't apply to every situation' 'contradict what my flight instructor taught me'
Right of way is not about forcing a meeting situation into a close call. Right of way is about not getting into meeting situations. It's about not being a jerk.
I offer this story and perspective because of the number of times certificated aviators give a scenario and ask 'who has the right of way?' If you have to ask, then ask...better than just not knowing. But the volume of questions on this subject is saying something. I also sense a lot of defensiveness and rice bowl thinking when the forum covers right of way. I feel too many people use well intentioned articles, or lectures, or advisory documents on pseudo 'right of way' in place of the actual rules. It takes less than three minutes to read the real thing! There is no substitute for knowing what the law says especially on something that has the potential to become a Time Critical Task on each and every flight. Pushing back on Right of Way by thinking that consideration is a better approach, is an incomplete understanding. We can be the most considerate in our flying by knowing enough about Right of Way that there is never a question in our minds or the minds of those we might otherwise meet.
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