This thread reminds me of an interesting discussion I heard about circling procedures.
Imagine a circling approach for a random aerodrome with a MDA of 650' AGL, and minimum ceiling 700'.
Now, this means that if the pilot has visual conditions and constant visual contact with the runway at 700', he can make a visual landing.
Isn't a circling approach a pseudo standard traffic pattern?
But wait, why is the standard visual traffic pattern at 1000' then?
And why is the minimum ceiling for a visual operation on an aerodrome 1500', or 1000' Special VFR?
If there is a published procedure for visually circling, approaching and landing at 700' AGL or less, why can't VFR aircrafts use this ceiling as well?
Just interested in what you have to say.
Cheers.