I mean - I know large circuits at training aerodromes are a perennial whinge, but show me the regulation that says you have to be able to glide to a runway at every point of your flight from A to B, or in the circuit or anywhere else.
Exactly.
I used to do circuits that you could glide to the field from mid downwind, but What about from take - off until the downwind point that you will make it from?
What about when you leave the circuit for the training area or further?
Most if not all light aircraft rely on powered approaches today. That means they rely on power! if the have a failure post a position were they can glide to the field, what then?
Surely its better to teach some one to be aware of their options and how to react then simply turn towards a runway they well not make?
I'm all for smallish circuits, more take-offs and landings is another good reason, but just to be able to "maybe" glide back with a failure, what frog****.