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Instrument rating · ACS IR.VI.D · lesson pack

Circling Approach

Why this one matters

Circling combines low altitude, low visibility, turns and a runway that’s hard to keep in view. Pilots who drift too far from the airport leave obstacle protection; those who descend early or lose sight of the runway hit terrain. Circling is flown carefully, close in, at the MDA, or not at all.

1 · Know these cold

  • •Approach category comes from VREF if specified, otherwise 1.3 times VSO, at maximum certificated landing weight: A under 91 knots, B 91-120, C 121-140, D 141-165, E 166 or more. Circle faster and you use the higher category’s minimums and radius.(14 CFR 97.3)
  • •Obstacle protection extends only a set radius from each runway threshold, and the radius depends on your category AND the circling MDA in feet MSL. Plan every circle with the expanded table (A 1.3 to 1.4 nm, B 1.7 to 2.1, C 2.7 to 3.3, D 3.6 to 4.4): brief “Category __, MDA __ feet MSL, so I stay within __ nm of a threshold.”(FAA TERM 25-05; AIM 5-4-20; FAA Order 8260.3)
  • •Stay at the circling MDA (or a higher altitude you chose) until all three 91.175(c) conditions hold: continuously in position to descend to the runway at a normal rate with normal maneuvers, the required flight visibility, and a listed reference distinctly visible. The protected area gives only 300 feet of obstacle clearance, at or above the MDA and inside the radius.(14 CFR 91.175; FAA Order 8260.3 (TERPS))
  • •Lose sight of an identifiable part of the airport (other than briefly, behind the wing in a normal bank)? An initial climbing turn toward the landing runway until established on the missed course. Obstacle clearance isn't assured on a missed from a circling position or below the MDA.(AIM 5-4-21)
  • •Circling at night or in low visibility is one of the highest-risk instrument maneuvers: consider a straight-in to another runway or higher personal minimums.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • •Low and turning: keep the bank at 30° or less and the airplane coordinated.(Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.D.S8)
  • •Checkride standard: airspeed ±10 knots, track ±10°, altitude +100/-0 feet until descending; touch down in the first third of the runway.(Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.D.S5, S8)

2 · The lesson

Categories and protected area
  • The approach category comes from VREF if one is specified, otherwise 1.3 VSO, both at maximum certificated landing weight (97.3): A under 91 knots, B 91 to 120, C 121 to 140, D 141 to 165, E 166 or more. If you’ll circle faster than your category’s range, use the higher category’s minimums and its radius.(14 CFR 97.3)
  • The protected circling area is an arc of the selected radius around each runway threshold, with the arcs joined by tangent lines: not one circle around the airport. The radius depends on category and the circling MDA in MSL, because the same indicated airspeed is a faster true airspeed higher up, so turns are wider.(AIM 5-4-20; FAA Order 8260.3 (TERPS), circling area)
  • The chart symbol and what changed: a negative “C” (white C on black) on the circling minimums line used to mean expanded criteria, and no symbol meant the older, smaller radii (A 1.3, B 1.5, C 1.7, D 2.3, E 4.5 nm). Under FAA TERM 25-05 (May 14, 2025), all circling areas have now been evaluated under expanded criteria, and the symbol is being removed from charts from August 7, 2025. Ignore whether it’s there: plan every circle with the expanded table.(FAA TERM 25-05; AIM 5-4-20)
  • Expanded radii in nautical miles (category A / B / C / D / E), by circling MDA in feet MSL: 1,000 or less: 1.3 / 1.7 / 2.7 / 3.6 / 4.5; 1,001 to 3,000: 1.3 / 1.8 / 2.8 / 3.7 / 4.6; 3,001 to 5,000: 1.3 / 1.8 / 2.9 / 3.8 / 4.8; 5,001 to 7,000: 1.3 / 1.9 / 3.0 / 4.0 / 5.0; 7,001 to 9,000: 1.4 / 2.0 / 3.2 / 4.2 / 5.3; 9,001 and above: 1.4 / 2.1 / 3.3 / 4.4 / 5.5.(FAA Order 8260.3 (TERPS), circling area; Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B))
  • Comply with charted restrictions, such as "circling NA" in certain sectors, and ATC’s instructions on direction.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • The category is fixed by certification (97.3). Circling faster than its range means using the higher category's minimums and radius; flying slower never lets you use a lower one.(14 CFR 97.3)
Flying the circle
  • Arrive at the MDA (or a higher circling altitude you planned) before the MAP; keep it until you can descend to the runway normally.(14 CFR 91.175)
  • Before circling, think about turbulence, wind shear and how well you can maneuver low. Be at the MDA, configured and stabilized, before the MAP. Pick a pattern that suits the wind; a tailwind on base will blow you through final, so plan for it and go missed rather than tighten the turn at the MDA. Hold airspeed, altitude and a bank of 30° or less; look outside more than in, but cross-check the altimeter and airspeed.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • Make the radius usable: before descending, brief “My category is __, my circling MDA is __ feet MSL, so I stay within __ nm of a runway threshold.” That radius is a wall you never cross, not a pattern to fly: take the shortest practical path and stay as close as visibility allows. A GPS distance to the airport waypoint isn't the distance to the nearest threshold, so keep the downwind well inside the number. If you can’t keep the runway in sight while staying inside it, go missed: a climbing turn toward the landing runway.(AIM 5-4-20; IPH)
  • Hand-fly if the autopilot can’t follow the visual maneuver well; know how to disconnect it.(Risk Management Handbook (FAA-H-8083-2A))
Night, low visibility and losing sight
  • At night or with marginal visibility, the runway and terrain are harder to see: consider a straight-in approach elsewhere or higher minimums.(Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B), Approaches)
  • If you lose sight of the airport, start a climbing turn toward the landing runway and join the missed approach course.(AIM, Chapter 5, Section 4 (arrival and approach procedures))
  • A missed approach after the MAP while circling follows the same rule: an initial climbing turn toward the landing runway until established on the missed course.(AIM 5-4-21)

Want it all on one page, with scenarios? Read the full lesson.

On the flight

ACS standards

  • Airspeed ±10 knots, heading/track ±10°, altitude +100/-0 feet until descending below the MDA or circling altitude.(Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.D.S5)
  • Touch down on the first third of the runway without excessive maneuvering or exceeding 30° of bank.(Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C), IR.VI.D.S8)

What your instructor is watching for

Your instructor watches that you use the right category minimums, know your protected radius for the category and MDA, stay close in and at the MDA, keep the runway in sight, keep the bank moderate, and know the lost-visual procedure.

3 · Say it out loud

Answer each one out loud, then check yourself and mark how it went.

  1. Remember Recall it

    “What approach category is an airplane with a VSO of 50 knots?”

  2. Understand Explain why

    “Why does the protected circling radius depend on the MDA as well as the category?”

  3. Apply Use it on a flight

    “Circling at night, you lose sight of the runway on downwind. What do you do?”

4 · Common mistakes

  • Using the wrong category.

    Wrong minimums and protected area.

    Instead: Your certificated category, or a higher one if you’ll circle faster; never a lower one.

  • Descending early.

    Obstacles near the airport.

    Instead: Hold the MDA until in position.

  • Steep, slow turns.

    Stall and spin close to the ground.

    Instead: 30° bank or less, coordinated, correct speed.

5 · Quick check

Answer, then reveal. Flag anything you want to see again.

  1. 1. What are the category speed ranges for A and B?

  2. 2. What sets your approach category?

  3. 3. When may you descend below the circling MDA?

  4. 4. Lost visual while circling?

  5. 5. Checkride bank limit while circling to land?

  6. 6. What two things set the size of the protected circling area under the expanded criteria?

  7. Scenario7. Night, 1 mile visibility, circling required. What might you choose instead?

Trained it? Now prove it: practice circling approach out loud with our examiner.

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Connect it

One situation that runs across this lesson and its neighbors in the same ACS area. Decide first, then check.

Connect it · Instrument Approach Procedures

On an LNAV approach you reach MDA two miles before the missed approach point. At one mile you see approach lights, but not the runway.

Can you descend, how far, and what makes you go missed? Decide, then see the worked answer

Under 91.175(c) you may leave MDA only when the airplane is continuously in a position from which a descent to a landing on the intended runway can be made at a normal rate of descent using normal maneuvers, the flight visibility is at least the published minimum, and at least one of the listed visual references for that runway is distinctly visible and identifiable. The approach light system counts, but it lets you descend only to 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation. That's a floor for the descent, not a target to level off at. Below it you need the red terminating bars or red side row bars, which only ALSF-1 and ALSF-2 systems have, or another 91.175(c)(3) reference: the threshold, its markings or lights, the REIL, the VASI or PAPI, the touchdown zone, or the runway, its markings or lights, distinctly visible and identifiable. Reach 100 feet without one and go missed immediately. Go missed at the MAP if you don't have the references. If you lose them below MDA, go missed at once too. Obstacle clearance on the missed approach assumes it starts at or above MDA at the MAP, so climb, re-intercept the published missed approach as safely as you can, and contact ATC as soon as possible.

14 CFR 91.175(c)-(e); AIM 5-4-21

Brings together: Non-precision Approach · Missed Approach · Landing from an Instrument Approach

Teaching this? The instructor lesson plan →

Study aid, not FAA guidance. Sources: Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16B); Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15B); Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM); 14 CFR; Instrument Rating ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C); Terminal Procedures Publication (TPP). Checked against current sources 2026-11-13.