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4 Answers

Do I Have to ask for a Short Approach?

Asked by: 5452 views , , , ,
FAA Regulations

Hi all,

I was flying with my friend today, both of us commercial pilots and myself a CFI. We were cleared to land #1 and I decided to pull the power abeam and practice a short approach. He started freaking out saying we needed to ask permission for a short approach from the tower. I told him I've never seen anything in the regs that defines a short approach and whether or not I have to ask permission for one. All I want to know is if a short approach is defined somewhere and if cleared to land or cleared for the option allows me to do one. I understand why it may be a good idea to let the tower know on a busy day but I'm just curious about the legality of it.

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4 Answers



  1. KDS on Apr 24, 2017

    The closest would be 4-3-5 of the AIM.

    There is no “have to”, however it is commonly used in some areas.

    Hopefully someone with ATC experience will come along and provide additional information.

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  2. Ken White on Apr 24, 2017

    I’ve never seen anything in the regulations on the subject. If I’m the only one in the pattern and I’m cleared to land I pretty much do whatever I want relative to power off 180/short approaches and have never had a tower controller question me. If there is traffic in the pattern or traffic approaching the airport I always request a short approach. My rationale is that this helps the controller work out the spacing in his/her head, not sure if it really helps them but it’s how I handle the situation.

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  3. Mark Kolber on Apr 26, 2017

    There’s a bit of basic courtesy involved here in addition to AIM guidance. ATC’s job at a towered airport is to sequence traffic for the runway. Basically, anything beyond a “normal” pattern, short approaches, long landings, 3 mile downwinds, 360s on final, whatever, merit informing the tower of your intentions.

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  4. R. Anderson on May 07, 2017

    A controller may be planning to get someone airborne in front of normal pattern traffic flying a typical landing profile (i.e., normal base leg, final length, etc.). Unless the controller is watching you at every moment in the pattern (which is probably not the case), making an unannounced short approach could disrupt the sequence the controller was planning. My opinion is that it is important to advise of your intentions (which is the same as seeking permission at a controlled airport) to fly any profile that deviates substantially from the norm.

    The AIM makes it clear how a pilot is supposed to fly a pattern. Unapproved and/or careless deviations from the AIM, although generally not constituting regulatory non-compliance, are not a good idea. A short approach, early turn after takeoff, etc., is perfectly acceptable and often useful, but the controller (if there is one), and other pilots need to be aware of your planned actions (if not standard). (former controller – Tower/TRACON/ARTCC)

    Just my two-cents

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