VISUAL MANOEUVRING

(CIRCLING) AREA
Doc 8168: VOL II Part I
Section 4 Chapter 7
ICAO FPP
Beijing, China

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

General
Final approach may be made:
a) to a runway for a straight-in landing; or

b) to an aerodrome for a circling approach.

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

Visual manoeuvring (circling)

visual phase of flight after completing
an instrument approach,
brings an aircraft into position for
landing on a runway which is not
suitably
located
for
straight-in
approach, i.e. one where the criteria
for alignment or descent gradient
cannot be met.
Does not apply to Category H

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

Visual manoeuvring (circling)

straight-in approach:
the angle formed by the final approach
track and the runway centre line shall not
exceed:
30 for procedures restricted to Cat A and B
aircraft ; and
15 for other aircraft categories.

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

maximum descent gradient

a) for non-precision procedures with FAF
6.5 per cent for Cat A and B aircraft;
6.1 per cent for Cat C, D and E aircraft;
10 per cent for Cat H aircraft.

for a non-precision approach with no FAF:

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

PROTECTION AREA
The visual manoeuvring (circling) area
is the area in which obstacle clearance
shall be considered for aircraft
manoeuvring visually (circling).

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

PROTECTION AREA
The size of the circling area varies with
the category of aicraft.

CAT A
CAT D

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

PROTECTION AREA
Protection area is constructed as follows:
draw an arc from the centre of the
threshold of each usable runway with a
radius appropriate to the aircraft category.
from the extremities of the adjacent arcs
draw lines tangent to the arcs; and
connect the tangent lines.

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

PROTECTION AREA
Radius from threshold (R) = 2r +
straight segment.
straight segment is a constant value
depending on aircraft category

A : 0.3 NM; B : 0.4NM ; C : 0.5 NM

D : 0.6 NM; E: 0.7NM

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

Parameters
Speed:

Pans-Ops PD Initial Course Circling

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Parameters
Wind:25 kt throughout the turn; and
bank: 20 average achieved or the bank
angle producing a turn rate of 3 per
second, whichever is the lesser.
altitude: aerodrome elevation + 300 m
(1 000 ft); and
temperature: ISA + 15.

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Example:

Aerodrome Elevation 1000ft

CATEGORY

A/100

B/135

C/180

D/205

E/240

TAS(2000)

ed
e
106
p
s

143

190

217

254

168

215

242

279

1.13

1.85

2.34

3.12

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

2.66

4.20

5.28

6.94

S (Straight
Segment)

AS
T131
r
0.69
ht
g
i
stra ent
m
g
e
s
0.3
R

Rc Radius

1.68

TAS + 25
r (radius
of turn)

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PROTECTION AREA
Only for
CAT A
CAT E

CAT A

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Exercise
Calculate Radius for construction of
Visual Circling Area of CAT C for an
aerodrome having elevation of 3000ft.
CAT C IAS Speed 180 Kts
k factor 4000 ft
1.0892
Speed
180*1.0892 + 25 = 222.712 Kt
r
1.96
Straight Segment 0.5NM
R

2r + s = 4.42NM
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MOC & OCH

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To reduce OCH/A
If a sector is outside the final approach
and missed approach areas may be
ignored for OCA/H calculations.
The sector is bounded by the
dimensions of the Annex 14 instrument
approach surfaces.
the published procedure must prohibit
the pilot from circling within the total
sector where the obstacle exists.
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OBSTACLE CLEARANCE
Sector
forbidden

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example

Restriction
for circling

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Prescribed Tracks
An location with clearly defined visual
features
operationally desirable
in addition to the circling area
specific track for visual manoeuvers
may be prescribed

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Questions

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