Hudson Bay -
May I assume when you say something is non-S0P, you mean that it is a specifically non-approved procedure? I have never read an Ops manual that even mentions an orbit manoeuvre, yet it is one of those things which, on the very odd occasion, is just the right tool for the job.
I can't see that they are inherently dangerous - I personally rate them as less challenging than a circling approach or a visual approach - or don't you do those either! A competent pilot should have both the skill to be able to execute an orbit safely, and the good sense to know when it is appropriate and when it is not. It is worth considering that compared to a go-around they save a tremendous amount of fuel and you don't lose your position in the queue...
Anyway, I've only been doing this job for a quarter of a century so I am still learning.
Over to you.......
Last edited by Weary; 26th Jan 2007 at 00:05.
Reason: typo!