Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Workload; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
There is a new power plant 1.5 miles SSW of JYO. The plant has just opened.  The power plant is 0.25 miles from the centerline extended of RWY 17/35.  The power plant is 1.0 miles from the departure end of RWY 17.Left pattern for RWY 17. Pattern height 1;200 ft MSL (800 ft AGL) Climb out from RWY 17. Standard left turn to crosswind is at 900 ft MSL (300 ft below pattern). This turn is at 500 ft AGL.The turn to left crosswind departing RWY 17 in a C172 takes the plane directly over the power plant (500 ft AGL) and through the thermal plume of the cooling system. It's a very bumpy ride directly through the thermal plume above the power plant.Today had to make left turn to crosswind at 800 ft MSL (400 ft AGL) or wait and turn left crosswind at 1;000 ft MSL (600 ft AGL) thus turning left crosswind either before or after the power plant.
A Student Pilot reported that a new power plant near JYO creates a very bumpy ride in the pattern.