The “Overhead Join” is a technique that although useful, and at some airfields stipulated as the only method of joining the circuit, is often viewed as difficult or confusing. By the time you have completed this month's CFI's challenge you will see that it is quite a simple technique that will hold no more “terrors” for you! We will take off from Exeter and fly to Dunkswell (EGTU) where we will do three “touch and goes” followed by a full-stop landing, performing an overhead join on all four approaches.

We will use either 04 or 22 for this exercise, and to keep other factors simple (irrespective of “real” circuit directions) will use left-hand circuits. (This to provide reasonable visibility of the field whilst in the circuit!) We will approach the runway in use from 4 directions – 90 degrees either side of the centre-line, and from both ways along the centre-line.

There will be help and advice available on Teamspeak, but it will still be a good idea to read up the “overhead join” procedure beforehand.

The event will take place the evening of Thursday, 13th October 2022 from 1900z to 2100z.

If there is sufficient demand for another go, or anyone who wants to “have a go” misses the event we can repeat the event on Thursday, 20th October 2022 from 1900z to 2100z. (Either date will qualify for the October “star”.)

Depart from Exeter EGTE. (the “purists amongst us may wish to do a prior “positioning flight” in preparation!)

Estimated flight time is 50 minutes. Your VATSIM flight plan should be from EGTE to EGTU with the comment "Overhead Join exercise".

The route has been carefully prepared to give the four approaches from the different directions, and to avoid conflicts with inbound traffic when repositioning for the next approach.

The routes are available in PlanG, LittleNavMap, and Skydemon, as well as “native FSX” formats here.

ATC cannot be guaranteed at Exeter (EGTE), but as Dunkswell (EGTU) only has a “Radio” position we may be able to man that on the “company frequency” (i.e. on the club Teamspeak channel) if there is none available on VATSIM.

Remember to ANC (Aviate, Navigate & Communicate).

This event should be fun for all, both pilots and controllers. Bear in mind that other traffic (not CIX members) may also be using the airspace and/or airfields but everyone has equal priority. There is no controlled airspace at low level in the vicinity. Outside of the Aerodrome Traffic Zones (ATZs) Air Traffic Services are not mandatory.