The base to final turn is an aircraft accident hot spot, and those accidents are usually fatal. Yet the manoeuvre is usually depicted as a ninety degree turn that, at low altitude and low airspeed with a precise aiming point, is potentially very dangerous particularly if the pilot becomes distracted. In this video I demonstrate how the danger arises and show how it can be avoided.
I am not suggesting that the pattern I describe will be ideal for every situation, and variations may be appropriate according to circumstances; I am trying to point out the dangers of a sharp base-to final turn that is typically undertaken at low level and low airspeed where there is little margin of safety and offer a solution to consider.
15 авг 2023