Aviation > Pilot/Controller Forum
CIRCLE TO LAND
Roodbwoye:
If an aircraft is conducting a surveillance approach ending with a circle to land on a different runway and while on short final to the landing runway he waves off and requests to enter the down, can the local controller simply instruct this IFR aircraft to enter the down-wind?
- If the answer is yes, at what point is this aircraft no longer IFR?
- If the aircraft is IFR until landing what type of separation is the tower providing?
- What if the airport is IMC but above circling minimums?
I have researched FAA 7110.65W as well as AIM and CFR
VASAviation:
-It's not needed to change rules to perform a circle or a visual traffic pattern.
-It depends on the type of airspace the airport is. Separation with other IFRs, information about VFRs, etc.
-The flight is still IFR but conducting a visual approach. It's NOT VFR. If minimums allow that aircraft to perform a circle to land as you said, nothing goes wrong. Ceiling and visibility are to be watched when preforming a circle to land.
I hope this helps :wink:
Roodbwoye:
Thanks for your reply,
So if I understand your post, it is perfectly "legal" for a VFR tower to issue control instructions to an IFR aircraft other than "cleared for take-off?"
The 7110.65 specifically states that an aircraft conducting a visual approach has no missed approach and will be treated like a regular "go-around". However, a circling maneuver (from a surveillance approach) is a radar approach and IFR separation is provided until the aircraft lands. Furthermore, the aircraft conducting the circling approach has either a published missed approach (instrument approach) or ATC issued missed approach (radar approach).
a. When an aircraft is conducting a surveillance approach and is instructed to proceed visually (in accordance with directives) approach guidance is discontinued not radar service. Radar service is terminated when the aircraft completes the radar approach.
b. Radar service is AUTOMATICALLY terminated when arriving VFR aircraft receiving radar services request or is instructed to contact tower or change to advisory frequency.
QUESTION: When the aircraft commences circling and is instructed to contact tower, is he considered a visual approach?
7110.65W para 5-1-13: RADAR SERVICE TERMINATED
2. An aircraft conducting an instrument, visual,
or contact approach has landed or has been instructed
to change to advisory frequency.
5. TERMINAL. An aircraft completes a radar
approach.
tyketto:
--- Quote from: Roodbwoye on April 08, 2017, 03:45:12 PM ---Thanks for your reply,
So if I understand your post, it is perfectly "legal" for a VFR tower to issue control instructions to an IFR aircraft other than "cleared for take-off?"
--- End quote ---
Just to be in the know, there really isn't a "VFR" tower. When you are referring to a field that is controlled, the meteorological conditions come into play. VMC (visual meteorological conditions) are when you can use VFR and IFR operations at that field; IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) are when you can only use IFR operations at that field.
With that, back to your question: Yes, it is perfectly legal for a tower in VMC to issue instructions to an aircraft operating under IFR other than "cleared for takeoff". Prime examples: Make left traffic, Make right traffic, enter left base, enter right base, enter left/right downwind, circle to land.
--- Quote ---The 7110.65 specifically states that an aircraft conducting a visual approach has no missed approach and will be treated like a regular "go-around". However, a circling maneuver (from a surveillance approach) is a radar approach and IFR separation is provided until the aircraft lands. Furthermore, the aircraft conducting the circling approach has either a published missed approach (instrument approach) or ATC issued missed approach (radar approach).
a. When an aircraft is conducting a surveillance approach and is instructed to proceed visually (in accordance with directives) approach guidance is discontinued not radar service. Radar service is terminated when the aircraft completes the radar approach.
b. Radar service is AUTOMATICALLY terminated when arriving VFR aircraft receiving radar services request or is instructed to contact tower or change to advisory frequency.
QUESTION: When the aircraft commences circling and is instructed to contact tower, is he considered a visual approach?
--- End quote ---
No. If the pilot was cleared for an IFR approach (ILS, MLS, RNAV/GPS, VOR, NDB, etc.) with "circle to land", the pilot is still adhering to the IFR procedure the pilot was cleared for by the approach controller. The only thing that would change would be the radar service being terminated, as the pilot was asked to contact the tower. If the pilot were on a visual approach with Circle to land, he would be on a visual approach, which is still and IFR procedure.
Now, even if you take out the instruction to contact the tower, the approach procedure (again, including the Circle to Land) would still be an IFR procedure. The radar approach would end after the circle to land, as well as radar service.
BL.
Roodbwoye:
That is my understanding as well. So, if the circling aircraft is on final approach to the landing runway (not the runway the surveillance approach is being made) and has to "wave-off". The pilot request to enter downwind and the field is VMC. Can the tower legally instruct the IFR aircraft to enter downwind? Or would the aircraft have to climb to execute the ATC (approach control) issued missed approach?
I am of the understanding that unless the pilot cancels IFR, he would have to execute missed approach.
By the way. I am the control tower chief at a military airport with over 25 years of experience.
Once again. I thank you for your input.
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