I have always thought this to be useless info. Being how many miles out one is. One day I announced so many miles out. By the time I reached the airfield someone had taken it. When I spoke with this someone they said they waited and waited and could not see me. I announced around 4-5 miles out. I now state how many miles out and how many mins I believe to be away. I am speaking of course at non-towered fields. Now I say 5 miles out and over 5 mins away. It sure looks closer when in the air then it does when on the ground.

My point if you are flying a bird that flies 100, a few miles out and you are on top of the airport. But if you fly something with a ground speed of 30-50 mph, and you are 5 mins out at 5 miles. Five mins seems like forever when sitting and waiting on the ground.

Now if you announce 2 mins out at these slow speeds you can be seen from the ground at the airport you intend to land. Kinda defeats the purpose of announcing when in the pattern already. So to say 5 miles out, those on the ground they believe you to be a min or two out, not 5 mins out.

IMHO miles out is useless info unless already in the air in the pattern. Then it is now useful info. But not to those on the ground looking up and waiting.