Plain English Meaning

A controlled, engine-idle descent in which the airplane circles down around a chosen spot on the ground, keeping the same distance from that spot all the way down.

Full Definition

A power-off descending maneuver in which the airplane is flown in a continuous, constant-radius turn around a fixed point on the ground while losing altitude at a steady airspeed. The pilot adjusts bank angle throughout the turn to compensate for wind drift, keeping the radius constant relative to the ground reference.

Context Anchor

Used in training and in for managing altitude while staying close to a possible .