Circle-to-Land Procedures at US Airways (and other majors)

[Alcatraz]

Out of the four airlines I've worked at in the last 7.5 years (SYX, ATA, AAY, SWA), all eventually didn't do "circling approaches." They all did "circling maneuvers," which is a visual traffic pattern in weather above 1000/3. I think this came about because the FAA felt that testing circling approaches in a sim were unrealistic or impractical.

And, from what I remember, none of the airlines I've been at had a specific procedure with the AP/FD (when equipped) regarding how a circling approach was to be flown that was any different than the standard PF/PNF duties. From what I can remember of our FOM at SWA, it's up to the PF how it's to be done (and, then, ultimately up to the Captain)... so there's no procedure, merely techniques.

 

[Spooky 2]

Your exactly right...most 121 ops do not do the circling approach , although there must be a few that do, say maybe Alaska? At any rate it's a hazardous maneuver, especially if not done with a rigid procedure in place. In my previous life, even though we observed the 1000 & 3 for a visual manuever, we none the less trained for the circle so as not to have the limitation on our rating. In my current life we do the circle and train for the 800 & 2. It tends to be a much more demanding approach than any CAT I ILS IMO.

 

[scoreboard]

so your visual the field, hand flying, and your setting the heading bug because you want someone to drop their SA and go inside, is that it??

 

[XBI]

Whoop Whoop,
Your D.O. -- or his mentor is full of it. At least for the past 24 years, that <<PNF setting the heading bug while the other guy yanks and banks>> procedure never happened at USAir. Not on the Fokker, the Boeings, or the Airbus. In fact it's even burned onto your A320 type rating that the "circ. aprch. VMC only" The frac that I work for today does circling approaches, but only on autopilot until rolling out on final with alt hold engaged and in a position to make a normal descent to land.

 

[FlyByNight1]

What's a goat rope? Sounds perverted...

First let me say... that was funny...

Now for the rest.

I fly in a 121 operation that does circle to land.
keep it simple. Break out on the approach. Pilot flying keeps landing surface in sight and maintains proper distance from runway. Then lands the airplane on the runway. What happened to flying the airplane?

 

[m80drvr]

At a fractional I flew at we did circling approaches. They were flown in final config, with the flying pilot putting in all the autopilot inputs and looking outside and inside. The NFP was backing him up outside BUT was in charge of giving him trend and altitude information. IE altitude and speed trend information. It worked very well.

Don't make this harder than it is, if you are the FP then fly the damn airplane, that includes putting in the AP inputs. If you are the NFP back the FP and keep him out of the weeds, and give him the FD or AP inputs that he wants. Remember most of us flew circling approaches in a 172 or a 402 freighter (or similar) at some point. A 737 or for that matter a 747 is just bigger but you have another set of eyes to help you out.

Keep it simple