Definition
A visual flight maneuver flown at the end of an instrument approach to align the aircraft with a runway that is not aligned with the final approach course of the approach being flown. The pilot, having broken out of cloud and established visual contact with the airport, maneuvers the aircraft visually around the airport at or above the published circling minimums until in position to make a normal landing on the chosen runway.
Plain English
When you fly an instrument approach but the runway you actually want to land on is not the one the approach lines you up with, you stay low, keep the airport in sight, and fly a visual loop around to the correct runway before landing.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach procedures and in approach clearances when the runway used for landing is not lined up well enough for a straight-in landing.
Derivation
Circle' comes from Latin circulus, meaning a small ring or going around. The name describes exactly what the pilot does: instead of landing straight ahead off the approach, they fly a circling path around the airport to reach a different runway.
Why Pilots Care
Allows a safe landing when wind, obstacles, or runway alignment make a straight-in landing impossible or unsafe.
Grounding Statement
Picture breaking out of the clouds near the airport, seeing the runway, then making a careful visual turn around the airport to line up for landing.
Intuition Check
Do not read “circle” as a casual turn around the airport. In this FAA use, it means a specific visual maneuver after an instrument approach, with altitude, visibility, and protected-area limits.
Example Sentence 1
The wind favored Runway 27, so after flying the VOR Runway 9 approach the pilot circled to land on Runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
The crew maintained visual contact with the runway throughout the circle-to-land maneuver before touching down.