Comply With Published Circuit Procedures
At uncontrolled or unattended aerodromes you must fly the circuit direction and procedures published in the AIP – announcing a 'non-standard' join is not acceptable.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
Pilots operating at an uncontrolled or unattended aerodrome must comply with the published circuit directions and procedures in AIP New Zealand Volume 4 for that aerodrome. These procedures are designed to give pilots the greatest possible safety when joining or vacating.
Announcing on the radio that you're joining or vacating 'non-standard' is not acceptable and does not absolve you from complying with the published circuit direction. This applies to all types of operation, although some agricultural and helicopter operations may be exempt under certain conditions.
Following the rules, combined with standard radiotelephony procedures and a good lookout scan, is essential for flight safety. Never assume you're the only aircraft in the vicinity of the aerodrome, even if you haven't heard any other radio calls.
Non-conformance with circuit procedures at uncontrolled or unattended aerodromes can be fatal.