Definition
An instrument approach procedure in which the pilot, after completing the published instrument approach to one runway, maneuvers visually around the airport at low altitude to land on a different runway that is not aligned with the final approach course. The maneuver is flown at or above the published circling minimums and within a protected area defined by the approach category.
Plain English
After flying an instrument approach toward one runway, the pilot stays low and circles the airport by sight to line up with and land on a different runway.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach procedures when the runway you intend to land on is not straight ahead at the end of the approach.
Derivation
From 'circling' (to move in a circle around something) and 'approach' (the segment of flight leading to landing). The name describes the maneuver literally: circling the airport before approaching the chosen runway.
Why Pilots Care
It lets pilots reach the most suitable runway safely when wind, terrain, or obstacles make a straight-in landing impractical or unsafe.
Grounding Statement
The key idea is: fly the instrument procedure to get close, then use visual maneuvering to line up with the landing runway.
Intuition Check
A circling approach does not mean you must fly a full circle around the airport. It means you visually maneuver near the airport after an instrument approach so you can land on a runway that is not straight ahead.
Example Sentence 1
Because the wind favored runway 27 but only the runway 9 ILS was available, the crew briefed a circling approach to land on 27.
Example Sentence 2
Because the wind had shifted, the crew elected a circling approach instead of landing on the runway aligned with the final approach course.