Originally Posted by
issi noho
effectively;
cat a max spd 100 radius 1.68
cat b 135 2.66
cat c 180 4.20
cat d 205 5.28
cat e 240 6.94
IN
Caution: TERPS and PANS-OPS circling areas differ quite significantly.
TERPS circling areas:
- Cat A = 1.3 nm
- Cat B = 1.5 nm
- Cat C = 1.7 nm
- Cat D = 2.3 nm
Jeppesen charts indicate "TERPS" or "PANS-OPS" via a little vertical notation at the lower left edge of the approach chart.
A B767 recently came to grief while circling to land at PUS.
http://aviation-safety.net/database/...0415-0&lang=en
The accident was a horrifically vivid illustration that absolutely zero margin is provided beyond the circling containment area -- the boundaries could well be considered to be vertical walls of concrete.
The B767 hit the mountain while operating
at the Cat C circling MDA and only a scant distance beyond the 1.7 mile radius. (Busan is a TERPS airport).
Big red flags should be raised any time a pilot sees circling MDA's increasing with aircraft category.
Also be mindful that the circling containment areas are simply lines drawn on topo maps and do not account for tailwinds. Precise airspeed control is important, but indicated airspeed alone may not provide sufficient protection during conditions of strong surface winds.
Take care,
Z