Originally Posted by
Nevets
I think what he is saying is that all circle to land maneuvers are done in "VMC" and so therefore why have a limitation on your certificate stating to do the maneuver in VMC as opposed to IMC as if that was a possibility. Or in other words, how do you do a circle to land in IMC since presumably if there is a limitation to "VMC ONLY" then it infers that you can do it in IMC.
Guess it depends on how you are reading it. Yes, a circle has to be done VMC since you ACTUALLY have to be able to see the runway to do it. But like I said, some circling approaches have mins below what is defined as "VFR". So if you are circling on an approach that has an 800' MDA, and the ceiling is 900', you are BELOW VFR mins. And like I said, not ALL airlines train to fly the maneuver at the ACTUAL circling minima, only at what's "VFR" weather conditions, therefore the "VMC ONLY" stipulation.
Originally Posted by
Jughead
Sorry for the thread creep, but I still don't get it. I would think "below VFR criteria" means IMC. In any case, obviously I wouldn't want to circle if I can't maintain visual contact with the runway I'm circling to. Our minimums are 1000-3 or published minimums, whichever is higher.
I confess I circle about three times a year in VMC to some runway in Latin America...
Well, when you did your circle training was it at the circling mins or the 1000/3 you mentioned? I'm guess the latter, hence the restriction. Maybe the FAA should change the wording they use on our certificates.