Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being better pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 04.25.06

A question that often comes up when training pilots about circling approaches is, "when is it required to miss the approach during the circling portion of the maneuver?" Let's open the Writ of Common Wisdom... er, the Federal Air Regulations.

FAR 91.175(e) tells us:

"... immediately execute an appropriate missed approach procedure when...  an identifiable part of the airport is not distinctly visible to the pilot during a circling maneuver at or above MDA, unless the inability to see an identifiable part of the airport results only from a normal bank of the aircraft during the circling approach."

There are two important points contained in this regulation:

1. "... identifiable part of the airport...": Despite significant conventional wisdom to the contrary, you do not need to keep the runway itself or the runway environment in sight in order to continue a circling maneuver. If you can see an adjacent runway or taxiway, the parking ramp, some hangars, the perimeter fence, or grassy areas that you know to be on airport property in sight you can continue to circle even if your target runway disappears momentarily in the mist.
2. "... unless... from a normal bank...": If your wing or an engine cowling blocks that view during a "normal" bank turn, you may continue to circle as long as you remain in visual contact with the ground (a handy qualification for pilots of high-wing airplanes).

If otherwise you lose sight of the airport at any time during the circle you are required to miss. The Aeronautical Information Manual agrees.

Remain within the protected distance from runway endpoints appropriate to the approach category for the speed you're flying (see figure). This assures that you'll have obstacle clearance at circling Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) with the turn radius brought on by your speed.

Aero-tip of the day: You need to maintain visual reference with the airport, not necessarily the runway, during the visual portion of a circling approach.

FMI: Aero-Tips