Tower: 'I'll call your base'

[Zero1Niner]

When you get this from the tower controller, is there an altitude restriction that is part of this? Is the pilot required to maintain present altitude when they get this or can they still begin the descent, but delay the turn?

[Barty]

I'd just stay at pattern altitude until the tower told me to turn, unless I was told to expect a tight pattern. Few times I have received this instruction it was always because they were extending my downwind.

[Joe Gremlin]

I've never been concerned with whether or not there's an altitude restriction asscociated with it. Because when I recieve it, I have to assume I could end up several miles from the runway before I get the call so I always stay at my present altitude until I get the call and then adjust my decent rate as appropriate for the distance I now need to cover.

[Sunburn]

If I'm going to tell a pilot that "I'll call your base" I expect the pilot to remain at pattern altitude, unless I've told the pilot to remain higher.

[Roger, Roger]

Tower: ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!!!

[minitour]

Stay up there.

-mini

[tprops4me]

If the fan up front goes out, you would want as much altitude as you can have.

[Ami]

Stay at pattern altitude. What if your downwind is going to be 2-3 miles out and you are loosing an engine?

[Zero1Niner]

Originally Posted by Roger, Roger

Tower: ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!!!

awesome.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Ami

What if your downwind is going to be 2-3 miles out and you are loosing an engine?

Just tighten it up.







(FYI; loosing versus losing )

[esa17]

Originally Posted by Joe Gremlin

I've never been concerned with whether or not there's an altitude restriction asscociated with it. Because when I recieve it, I have to assume I could end up several miles from the runway before I get the call so I always stay at my present altitude until I get the call and then adjust my decent rate as appropriate for the distance I now need to cover.

Drop the flaps and slow down, then you won't get so far out while giving them the spacing they need.

[Cessna414JJB]

Originally Posted by Ami

Stay at pattern altitude. What if your downwind is going to be 2-3 miles out and you are loosing an engine?

Depending on how many you have, you'll continue flying to the accident site or fire up the spare one, you forgot when you took off.

[CFIscare]

Originally Posted by esa17

Drop the flaps and slow down, then you won't get so far out while giving them the spacing they need.

Just make sure there is nobody behind you.

[CN94559]

Originally Posted by esa17

Drop the flaps and slow down, then you won't get so far out while giving them the spacing they need.

Originally Posted by flywithUS

Just make sure there is nobody behind you.

then they could get real mad at you for messing up their spacing, again.

[Douglas]

I heard, now this is just water cooler talk, but I heard tower was not supposed to "call your base".
I don't know why not, any controllers know anything about that?

[TXTBOOK]

Originally Posted by Douglas

I heard, now this is just water cooler talk, but I heard tower was not supposed to "call your base".
I don't know why not, any controllers know anything about that?

Happens all the time at VNY and WHP. I stay at TPA when they say this. Not per any rule, but just because I want to have some options if something goes wrong, and also because the east pattern at VNY in our aircraft allows us to stay at TPA until we turn base, not abeam the numbers. So descending on the extended DW would put me too low.

[Beehive]

Originally Posted by Douglas

I heard, now this is just water cooler talk, but I heard tower was not supposed to "call your base".
I don't know why not, any controllers know anything about that?

If at a controlled airport, you don't have a choice, except to go around.
IFR: You want to land, I want you to land. If you are cleared for the visual (and like oh my gosh, on the downwind and drag base), you could get a "cancel approach clearance turn (base) right heading 150, maintain 3,000, confirm airport insight south 10 miles".
I wouldn't do this unless I could assure an IFR approach if unable visual.

[The Fez]

I'd stay at TPA as well. When I was training at TUS, the tower was calling my base turn quite a bit. It was never really a big deal until they'd get busy with incoming commercial aircraft or a flight of F-16's coming up initial...then I'd end up having to call the tower after flying 5-6 miles past the threshold and ask them if they'd like me to turn base before smacking into the mountains. Keeping that altitude buffer around the airfield is just good practice...for emergencies, wx, etc.

[subpilot]

I think some people are hinting at the thought of climbing as you get farther and farther away from the airport. Being at 800-1000 AFE when 3-5 miles out on extended downwind and flying over possible rising or hostile terrain or a congested area would not be smart or safe. I have always thought of this as a good idea yet I never do it.

[Toria]

Originally Posted by The Fez

at TUS, the tower was calling my base turn quite a bit. .......call the tower after flying 5-6 miles past the threshold and ask them if they'd like me to turn base before smacking into the mountains.

Exactly. Or do 360's over the Mission (ground-reference) for 25 minutes................

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Roger, Roger

Tower: ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!!!

pAwsome!

[Zero1Niner]

Originally Posted by Roger, Roger

Tower: ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!!!

[imatworkallday]

Originally Posted by Zero1Niner

please forgive the ignorance, but what game was that?

[FM_Weasel]

You're VFR, I don't really care what your altitude is. Of course, I'm in a Class D so I don't have much in the way of separation responsibility with VFR traffic. I'll tell you about other people that may be in conflict with your flight path, don't hit them please.

And though "I'll call your base" isn't in the phraseology in the .65, "extend <pattern leg>" is. And if I say "extend downwind" without specifying for how long, it's essentially saying "I'll call your base." Otherwise you'd just be on a downwind for eternity.

[Douglas]

Originally Posted by FM_Weasel

And though "I'll call your base" isn't in the phraseology in the .65, "extend <pattern leg>" is. And if I say "extend downwind" without specifying for how long, it's essentially saying "I'll call your base." Otherwise you'd just be on a downwind for eternity.

ah there it is, thanks for the clearing up that water cooler talk.