Protected Airspace for Circling Approaches To Expand

The FAA will begin publishing instrument approaches that use larger circling-approach airspace dimensions on May 2, addressing industry safety groups’ assertions that the radii were “insufficient to contain large, jet transport airplanes during the circle-to-land maneuver,” according to NBAA.

This increase in circling protected airspace will provide improved lateral clearance from obstacles, while allowing additional maneuvering room to assist pilots in stabilizing the final approach and landing, the association noted. The lack of maneuvering room in circling approaches has led to an increased frequency of runway overruns after circle-to-land approaches, NBAA said.

U.S. terminal procedures approach charts will have a “Negative C” circle icon, and Jeppesen charts a “Negative C” diamond icon, to identify circling minimums that use the new expanded circling area dimensions. Circling minimums without these icons still use the smaller circling area dimensions, NBAA said.

Under the expanded minimums, circling radii could be up to 1 nm larger than they were previously. NBAA has set up a dedicated web page to explain these changes.