circling approach

[alpergokgoz]

are circling approach and indirect non precision appraoch the same thing ?

[niknak]

In the UK, a circling approach is usually an approach made to another runway after completing an Instrument approach, ie make an ILS approach to Rwy28 and circle visually to land on on Rwy04.

A non precision approach is a full instrument approach using a published NDB or VOR procedure, to land on the runway for that approach.

Indirect Instrument Approach? As far as I know, it doesn't exist in the UK.

[keithl]

Nothing to add to Niknak's accurate answer, but as I, too, have never heard the expression "Indirect Non-Precision Approach", I'd like to ask where the expression came from. Perhaps it has some meaning beyond the UK, so in the interest of broadening my knowledge I'd like to know if it means anything to anyone else.

[delay undetermined]

I agree,

"Indirect Non-Precision Approach" - sounds a bit like a Visual Approach to me ...

[BOAC]

Maybe that old chestnut, the 'cloudbreak NDB'?

I was never quite sure whether that was a 'circling' type manoeuvre or a 'procedure' to a visual. Luckily although I did LOADS of radar to visual in HM's Flying Club I never flew a NDB cloudbreak. I'm sure I've seen one somewhere in 'mainland' Europe.

[Chilli Monster]

Indirect non-Precision approach. Rare in the UK (NDB 114 deg at Gloucestershire is an example) but more common overseas. A VOR, NDB, TACAN or similar approach which does not follow the runway axis / centreline but just points you at the airfield where you then carry out a circling approach to completion.

So - to answer the original question. No, they're not the same thing. The circling approach is what is flown either at the end of an indirect instrument approach, OR if you fly a direct approach (either precision or non-precision) and then break off to circle and land on a different runway than that served by the approach.

[M609]

VOR-A at ENAT/Alta is another example:

http://www.ippc.no/norway_aip/150307...NAT_5-3_en.pdf

Quite a few over here, as the terrain prevents more conventional approaches.

[ATCO17]

Never heard of an Indirect Non-Precision Approach, and I've got the ICAO Doc 8168, PANS-OPS Vol 2 (Construction of Visual and Instrument Flight Procedures) right in front of me. The Altna approach is interesting and not one I'd be keen to fly! It's simply a non-precision approach to a Circling Approach. Interesting procedure minimas!

[bookworm]

For some reason I had it in my head that "indirect approach" was synonymous with the ICAO "Visual Manoeuvring using Prescribed Track" (PANS-OPS Vol1 4.8). But I can't find any reference to support that (or any other) interpretation.

[ecj]

EGPI - approved CAA operators only ~ AFIS :

Islay have an NDB only approach which is not aligned with the main runway 13/31.

Higher minima than the NDB/DME approaches.

Add to that the known issues with a NDB, I think the ALTA approach looks less of a challenge even with its high decision altitude.

[M609]

ENRA/Mo I Rana LLZ-circling: http://www.ippc.no/norway_aip/150307...NRA_5-1_en.pdf

ENHV/Honingsvaag LLZ-circling:
http://www.ippc.no/norway_aip/150307...NHV_5-1_en.pdf

ENMS/Mosjoen: VOR/DME-circling: http://www.ippc.no/norway_aip/150307...NMS_5-2_en.pdf

These are old ones (published years ago)
For some reason they stopped calling them Approach to circling when creating new procedures.
The new ones (Like Alta) are "VOR-A", "LLZ-C" or along those lines.

Still, SCAT-1 (GLS)will make them obsolete they say!

http://www.ippc.no/ippc/display_pdf_...007_009_en.pdf