Circling Revisited

Mark Kolber

Monday, May 22, 2023 at 10:02 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

IFR circling approaches generally must follow standard VFR traffic pattern rules (left turns unless otherwise indicated), as reinforced by FAA regulations and consistent legal interpretations.
Contrary to some common misconceptions and generalized diagrams, pilot discretion is not permitted for opposite-direction circling; authorization must come from ATC (in Class E) or, critically, specific notes on the instrument approach procedure chart itself.
A chart note prohibiting circling in the standard direction effectively authorizes or requires circling in the opposite direction.
Even when legally authorized to circle in the opposite direction, pilots must prioritize safety and avoid reckless operation, especially regarding potential conflicting VFR traffic, to comply with FAA regulations.

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Turning in the opposite direction of the regulatory traffic pattern during a circling approach is an almost constant topic of discussion in instrument pilot circles. In “Going Below Minimums” (May 2022 IFR), we wrote:

“At a non‑towered airport the Instrument Flying Handbook in Figure 10‑13 seems to indicate that you can circle in any direction that makes sense. But several legal interpretations have shown that the FAA wants you to circle in the same direction that VFR traffic is required to travel.”