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Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 09:50:27 -0600
From: Snowbird <snbird@ibm.net>
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Subject: Re: Best way to leave the pattern.
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Roy Smith wrote:
 
> jgalban@hotmail.com wrote:
> > I'll admit it makes me a little uneasy to know that I and three 
> > other planes are inbound for the same point and the tower doesn't 
> > ask for more precise position info.
 
> You seem to be expecting more from ATC than you should.  The tower's
> responsibility to VFR traffic in Class D airspace is to sequence 
> arrivals and provide separation *on the airport surface*.  The tower 
> has absolutely NO responsibility to provide separation between VFR > aircraft in the air.

While this is true, if I am one of three aircraft inbound for the
same point at an uncontrolled airport, I would certainly report
my position and altitude as clearly as I could, and would query
the other aircraft for more information ("Cessna approaching
Podunk, say altitude and current position?  Grumman 123 is 2 west,
midfield, one thousand eight hundred").  I've had other pilots query 
me, likewise, and I think it's a good addition to "see and avoid"

That being the case, I see no reason why one should do with *less*
information at a towered airport (esp. with radar)_, and would have 
no hesitation in asking for similar information.  The difference is,
while at a non-towered airport I would ask the other aircraft
directly, at a towered airport such requests must be phrased to
include the tower ("ie Podunk Tower, Grumman 123, say altitude and
current position on Cessna approaching downwind, negative contact.")

Just because they don't have official responsibility for VFR
separation in the air, doesn't mean they won't (in general) be
happy to help pilots out.

Snowbird


