Definition
A visual flight maneuver flown after completing an instrument approach, used to align the aircraft with a runway that is not aligned with the final approach course. The pilot maneuvers the aircraft visually around the airport at a specified altitude until in position to land on the chosen runway.
Plain English
After flying an instrument approach, the pilot keeps the airport in sight and flies a visual loop around it to line up with a runway that the approach didn't bring them straight to.
Context Anchor
You will see this term in instrument approach procedures and ATC clearances when the approach path does not line up directly with the runway you plan to land on.
Derivation
From 'circle' (Latin circulus, a small ring) — the pilot flies a curved path around the airport rather than approaching it in a straight line. The word captures exactly what the maneuver looks like from above.
Why Pilots Care
Allows a safe landing on the most suitable runway when wind, obstacles, or airport layout make a straight-in landing impractical or unsafe.
Grounding Statement
The essential idea is: fly the instrument approach, get the airport in sight, then visually reposition the aircraft to land on the chosen runway.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “circling” means flying full circles around the airport. In this context, it means a controlled visual repositioning maneuver to line up for landing.
Example Sentence 1
Because the wind favored Runway 14 but the only published approach was the VOR-A, the pilot briefed a circling maneuver to land.
Example Sentence 2
The circling maneuver must be completed within the published radius to ensure obstacle clearance during the turn to final.