Overfly airfield during landing procedure

[The_Tau]

In manual it says that you can fly towards the airfield in NAV mode and when you are over it (overfly) you switch to LAND NAV. 

Is there any particular reason for it? Why not go straight for LB or LF? Does Nav system updates itself when you do overfly?

Thank you

[Machalot]

I don't have access to the manual right now, but could it be describing a normal overhead visual approach? In non-visual conditions like night or with weather you could certainly go to LB on approach and skip the overflight.

[Zeagle]

In real life you aren't out flying alone. There is usually another ship, or two or three with you. If everyone wants to slow down way out there to enter the landing pattern, then you end up with a long line of low, slow targets. This is especially true if more than one flight arrives at the airfield at the same time. To alleviate this, the overhead pattern was devised. Actually, it was devised back in the WWII days as a way to defend against trailing bandits AND get the flight on deck as soon as possible.

But the short answer is the overhead approach gets the flights down as quick as possible. Obviously, weather and nighttime would change that. In those cases, you would shoot the appropriate procedure.