Somewhere in, I think, the Tower Controller's handbook a 360/overhead approach is described. I can't find the reference. So, here is my definition.

1) Fly straight at the runway at the runway heading and at somewhere near the pattern altitude. Cruise speed is fine for this entry.

2) Break at some point. The point can be at the beginning, mid or end of the runway. Announce the break and the point at which you are making it. I like Rick's announcement of "entering downwind" because many pilots don't know what "breaking midfield" means. Break means start turning.

3) Make a 360° degree turn right on to the runway. If the break was late, the 360 will be more elliptical then a perfect circle.

4) When the turn has progressed to 180°, the aircraft should be at pattern altitude and the landing checklist should be gone through. Make sure that the gear is down.

5) Continue the turn to the runway while descending.

6) Land

Look in the AIM refer to 5-4-25 for proof that the Overhead Approach exists:

http://www.faa.gov/ATPubs/AIM/chap5toc.htm#Chapter5TOC

In the BlackJack Squadron look here for a pretty poor description of the 360/Overhead Approach:

http://home.att.net/~blackjacksquadron/360_over.html

--
Lorn H. 'Feathers' Olsen, MAA, DynaComm, Corp.
248-345-0500, mailto:lorn@dynacomm.ws
LNC2, O-320-D1F, 1,100 hrs, N31161, Y47, SE Michigan