Short Final

Sunday, August 27, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Two pilots (Cherokee and Grumman) simultaneously entered the left downwind for the same runway at a non-towered airport.
The Cherokee pilot offered to yield to the faster Grumman, but the Grumman pilot courteously declined and opted to follow.
This exchange demonstrated cooperative airmanship and clear communication between pilots in uncontrolled airspace.

See a mistake? Contact us.

While flying back to my home airport, KAVQ, I heard this exchange from two pilots entering the non-towered airport airspace:

Cherokee: Cherokee 1234 entering left downwind for runway 12, full stop.

A Grumman Tiger pilot was also entering left downwind making a similar call.

Cherokee pilot: Grumman aircraft, we will swing wide since you are faster to allow you to land first.

Grumman pilot: No problem, I’m retired. Grumman number two to land behind the Cherokee.

And so they did.

John Winter