Perhaps what they should have done when they realized they had too much tailwind is break off to the east and conduct a right hand visual circuit at 1,500' within the circling area.
Even at 800' on a 2 nm final for 18 they could have broken left and climbed back to at least 1000' to circle or indeed stayed at 800' as 800' is the CAT D circling minima.
What I don't understand is Mel App telling the crew to climb to 3000'?? They are OCTA and can dam well do as they please without ATC interference and besides:
1/ the published missed app is 2,500' and
2/ the MSA to the south within 25 nm is 2,500'
I think ATC might not have helped the crew and only added to their workload.
Last edited by nitpicker330; 2nd Jul 2011 at 01:33.