Narrative:

Oaj is an uncontrolled airport. WX was approximately 1500' and 2 mi visibility. We shot the ILS to runway 5 after being cleared for the approach by ilm approach. They advised us no traffic between us and airport. After breaking out I advised ilm approach I had the field visually and was terminating the approach on runways and entering a right downwind for runway 23 (winds were 20 degrees at 15 KTS, gusts at 20 KTS). I advised right downwind, base and final on unicom. I was the only aircraft in the pattern at oaj. We landed west/O incident. The airport manager later told me I must fly a left-hand pattern at oaj. I advised him approach had told me there was no traffic at oaj and I elected to fly a right-hand pattern. It was the copilot's leg and he can see the field in a right-hand pattern. I considered it a safety of flight item.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ARPT MANAGER COMPLAINED WHEN FLT CREW FLEW A RIGHT-HAND VERSUS A LEFT-HAND PATTERN.

Narrative: OAJ IS AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT. WX WAS APPROX 1500' AND 2 MI VISIBILITY. WE SHOT THE ILS TO RWY 5 AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE APCH BY ILM APCH. THEY ADVISED US NO TFC BTWN US AND ARPT. AFTER BREAKING OUT I ADVISED ILM APCH I HAD THE FIELD VISUALLY AND WAS TERMINATING THE APCH ON RWYS AND ENTERING A RIGHT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 23 (WINDS WERE 20 DEGS AT 15 KTS, GUSTS AT 20 KTS). I ADVISED RIGHT DOWNWIND, BASE AND FINAL ON UNICOM. I WAS THE ONLY ACFT IN THE PATTERN AT OAJ. WE LANDED W/O INCIDENT. THE ARPT MGR LATER TOLD ME I MUST FLY A LEFT-HAND PATTERN AT OAJ. I ADVISED HIM APCH HAD TOLD ME THERE WAS NO TFC AT OAJ AND I ELECTED TO FLY A RIGHT-HAND PATTERN. IT WAS THE COPLT'S LEG AND HE CAN SEE THE FIELD IN A RIGHT-HAND PATTERN. I CONSIDERED IT A SAFETY OF FLT ITEM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.