Guess what.
Some years ago, the new applicant for a type rating (ie; Captain, FAA) had to be able to demonstrate a circle to land from 600/2 miles (600 feet, 3200 metres for our European friends)....and he still does.
Can't do same now, time to find another job.
Having said this, a few aircarriers have adopted 1000/3 miles as the minimum circling minima, for heavy jets. Certainly nothing wrong with this.
Circling is a very demanding maneuver...and it showes up as such on nearly every sim check. And no wonder, it demands hand flying the aeroplane....something our European friends are (apparently) not all that familiar with...
Why are we not surprised
