Circling Approach
A circling approach is a maneuver to align with a runway that is not aligned with the final approach course (more than 30° off, or requiring a circle to land). After the instrument approach, you maneuver visually at or above the circling MDA, within the protected circling radius for your approach category, keeping the runway in sight, then descend from a normal position to land.
Step by step
- 1Brief the circling minimums (circling MDA and visibility) and the planned circling direction; confirm the protected radius for your aircraft category.
- 2Fly the instrument approach to the circling MDA and level off — do not descend below circling MDA until in a position for a normal landing descent.
- 3On acquiring the airport, maneuver visually to a downwind/base for the landing runway, staying within the protected circling area and keeping the runway in sight.
- 4Fly a pattern that keeps you close enough to remain in the protected area but allows a stabilized turn to final.
- 5When in a position to make a normal descent to the runway, leave MDA and land.
- 6If you lose sight of the runway/airport at any point while circling, immediately execute the missed approach — start a climbing turn toward the landing runway to stay over the airport.
Tips & common errors
- Stay at or above circling MDA until you can make a normal descent to the runway.
- Keep the runway in sight; the instant you lose it, go missed (turn toward the airport and climb).
- Respect the circling radius for your category — do not fly a wide pattern outside protected airspace.
- Circling at night or in low visibility is high-risk; brief it carefully and know the missed approach.
ACS completion standards
The commonly-tested tolerances for this maneuver. Always confirm the current ACS for your certificate.
- Maintain circling MDA +100/-0 feet until in a position to make a normal descent to landing; airspeed ±10 knots.
- Stay within the protected circling area and keep the runway/airport in sight.
- Execute the missed approach correctly if visual reference is lost.
FAA source
FAA-S-ACS-8 (Instrument Rating ACS), Task: Circling Approach; Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15, Chapter 11.
This is an original, plain-English study summary grounded in the public-domain FAA Airman Certification Standards and FAA handbooks cited above. It is a study aid, not flight instruction, and not a substitute for the official ACS, the handbooks, your aircraft’s POH/AFM, or a certificated flight instructor.
Related maneuvers
- Attitude Instrument Flying & the Instrument ScanAttitude instrument flying is the foundation of all instrument flight: you control the airplane by interpreting the instruments instead of looking outside. You set an attitude on the attitude indicator (control), verify the result on the other instruments (performance), and trim. A disciplined cross-check (scan) prevents fixation and keeps every parameter in tolerance.
- Constant-Airspeed Climbs & DescentsOn instruments you frequently change altitude at a constant airspeed. You set a pitch and power for the desired airspeed, hold it with the scan, and lead the level-off so you roll out exactly on the new altitude and back at cruise airspeed.
- Rate Climbs & Descents (Constant Vertical Speed)Sometimes you must hold a specific vertical speed (for example to meet a crossing restriction or to fly a constant descent rate on an approach). You adjust pitch and power to pin the VSI to a target rate while still controlling airspeed, then lead the level-off.
- Steep Turns (Instrument)On instruments, a steep turn (typically a sustained 45° bank) tests your cross-check and control as the higher bank increases the back-pressure and power needed to hold altitude. With no outside horizon, you must control everything by the attitude indicator and supporting instruments.
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