SimJock makes a very good point re. training, and the effect of noise-abatement circuits on training.
Instructors have a very difficult job to do, juggling the need to teach students a technique which will work on any runway with the need to keep the locals happy. But it's not impossible.
When I was taught circuits, my instructor taught me like this:
Turn crosswind when you get to 500'. On this circuit, though, you also need to make sure you've gone past the church.
The downwind leg is normally flown so that the wingtip appears on the edge of the runway. Now, make sure you're outside that village over there, and note that the wingtip is a bit below the runway - we're further out than we would be in an ideal world, and that's because of those villages down there.
The base turn is normally made when the runway is 45 degrees behind you. But because we flew the downwind leg a little wide, the angle will be a little less on this circuit.
I was
always taught to judge the circuit with regard to the runway. Then, I adjust the ideal circuit to take noise abatement procedures into account. The end result is that the circuits which I fly at my home airfield will be from landmark to landmark, as SimJock describes (traffic and other considerations permitting). But I've never had any problems flying circuits at other airfields - right from my first land-away as a student, I've been able to fly circuits where my usual landmarks have been absent. (Putting the 'plane down in one piece, though - well, that's a completely different issue!)
So yes, it is possible - so long as instructors don't teach their students to use the landmarks as the primary means of flying the circuit.
FFF
--------------