Rwy20 wrote:
I found this Belgian website which states…
That’s of course not an official site and it has something (1/3 down the page) which resembles a British “standard overhead join” and about which they claim that it is the procedure to be used when flying at controlled airfields… No way do you cross or overfly the runway of a controlled airfield unless specifically instructed to do so! (Guess why I know that…)
what_next wrote:
it has something (1/3 down the page) which resembles a British “standard overhead join” and about which they claim that it is the procedure to be used when flying at controlled airfields
I read it as describing one way to join the beginning of downwind at circuit height on uncontrolled fields, and it’s the same in France. There is no regulation on how you are supposed to get from the overhead (500 ft above circuit height) to the beginning of downwind, only that you must
The depicted method is one of the possibilities, there are others.
What is odd indeed is that the radio messages on the picture assume you’re talking to “tower”.
Rwy20 wrote:
What is odd indeed is that the radio messages on the picture assume you’re talking to “tower”.
That’s probably why I concluded that this is the method to be applied when flying to towered airfields.
Rwy20 wrote:
On controlled aerodromes, this is not applicable and you are supposed to follow the clearances that you received
I agree… but the initial question was “what does the controller expect” when he states “join downwind”… I have learned that “downwind” is “beginning of downwind” as other have mentioned in the threat (as you mention the confusion might come from the circuit join on uncontrolled airfields).
Your interpretation (“when you intercept the track of the downwind leg, turn onto it”) makes sense.
I would have expected a “joind mid righthand downwind” as instruction in the initial case. It would result in zero doubt on what as expected.
jfw wrote:
I agree… but the initial question was “what does the controller expect” when he states “join downwind”
I know, but in my post, I was merely translating the French law, not stating my own opinion. Personally, I think that this phrase is a bit meagre to describe what you’re supposed to do at a controlled airfield.
But this short phrase also shows the spirit – when you are under air traffic control, it is all about what you both agree upon and nothing should be assumed. Except if it’s in a predefined procedure like a SID or STAR which you are given. For example in Luxembourg, they also draw maps with VFR routes for arrival and departure, a bit similar to the one you posted at the start of this thread. But they don’t leave gaping holes that can be filled by the imagination of each pilot. 
I was at the CAA today and posed this question to a long time CAA employee (who also has a lot of experience on all GA types.) He said, without hesitation or doubt, that he would join at the beginning of the downwind leg.
I have asked that the CAA think about the issue and put advice in the forthcoming Skyway Code.
