Circular Approaches?

I own and fly a Cessna 172, and a curved pattern (Circular Patterns, March 2017) would not be an advantage as I would not see the runway until I came out at the end of the turn. I realize the military used this approach but as you know they have very few high-wing aircraft. Also, you would not be able to see if another aircraft cut you off until the last moment. Why change something that has been working just fine?

Key Takeaways:

• The article features strong opposition from general aviation pilots against the adoption of "Circular Patterns" for landings, especially at non-towered airports.
• Key concerns include reduced visibility of the runway and other aircraft (due to high-wing designs or constant banking in low-wing aircraft), and the destabilizing effects of deploying flaps during a continuous descending turn.
• Critics also argue that such non-standard patterns introduce confusion and increase collision risks at non-towered airports, contrary to established safety practices, and make it difficult to maintain proper glide ratios without excessive power.

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