Originally Posted by
172_driver
That said, in a place like Corfu I would definitely respect the circling minima. There isn't much terrain clearance as it is within the 4,2 nm circle and when you leave MDA there is none. Starting out below MDA cloud scudding. I like the creativeness, but no thanks.
Well respected reply.
But again, you can’t deny a visual pattern because a procedure doesn’t have circling minima.
When in visual approach you fly visual.
Circling MDA assumes that you maintain that altitude at weather limiting conditions and that you will descend MDA and break only when you will be visual there.
Here I was talking about a visual pattern from the beginning early in the procedure assuming you have visual contact.
The option not to fly it is a pilots discretion and it is well understood. ATC prohibition is well understood due to weather conditions or other reasons. However ATC prohibition because RNAV doesn’t have circling minima is just not valid.