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Circle From An ILS?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article explores whether pilots can circle from an ILS approach or must exclusively use the LOC (localizer-only) version when circling minimums are published.
  • It notes that precision approaches (like ILS) only publish circling minimums if an accompanying non-precision (LOC) version is also available.
  • The author concludes that practically, as long as all minimum altitudes—including stepdowns and the circling Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA)—are respected, flying the ILS (following the localizer and glideslope) to a circling MDA is functionally permissible and equivalent to flying the LOC version.
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Recently a reader wrote to ask me a question that’s been provoking a lot of thought here in the IFR virtual offices. This particular reader is an airline pilot for a foreign airline that operates into the U.S. and under FAA Part 121. Besides “flying the line” he’s also part of their Flight Standards, so it’s not a trivial question.

The reader noted that an ILS is often published as an ILS or LOC approach. Such approaches will therefore offer minimums for the ILS and for the
LOC-only version. But, many will also often publish circling minimums, such as shown above for my home ’drome of Santa Fe, NM.

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