Citation2
You are confused because the same name (aircraft category)is used in both the approach category (straight in)and the circling maneuver.
A category of an aircraft is dependent on its VAT ..not the circle!!!!!!!!!
I recall a question that many examiners ask during oral test, or type rating : what is the maximum speed allowed in a circle to land for a C aircraft? Answer : 180 kts.
It is a wording issue,a B737 with a mac landing weight of 65.3T(cat C) may have to perform a circle at higher speed than 180 kts due to flap failure,(lets say 200kts),it will use cat D minima(higher MDA) even though it is STILL a CAT C category.
Get it?
AerocatS2A
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,595
Jeppesen Aus states you can circle at a higher category if you wish provided you comply with the restrictions for the higher category. Basically if you need more room to manoeuvre you can use the larger circling area of a higher category provided you also use the higher obstacle clearance altitude.
Correct!
Your aircraft is still a CAT C (this will NOt change,its fixed by the operator)but you as pilot may use CAT D CIRCLING minima because of higher SPEED due to flaps malfunction for example.
Likewise if your aircraft only just fits into a Cat at max landing weight you can't drop down when at a lower weight.
Correct.