VOR Circle to Land at KSBP (San Luis Obispo Regional, CA)
 

Hello guys,

I am a PP student planning to get CP/ ATPL, so I practice a lot IFR on simulators, and I came across an approach in KSBP airport which brought me some doubts while reading the chart.
My questions are regarding the direction of the circle to land, as it is not specified in the chart (maybe because there’s a general circle-to-land rule that I am still not aware of).

The traffic pattern (as depicted in image C) in KSBP is left-hand, so my first assumption was that, from MARND (minimums point), one should make a right turn to intercept the left downwind leg for runway 29, or cross the runway and make a left turn to intercept the runway 11 left downwind leg. But then I realized that MARND is too close to the runway, not giving us enough space and time to enter the left downwind leg for runway 29. This assumption is illustrated in the image B.

so my second guess would be the one depicted in the image A, where we would cross anyway the runway for both of the runways and make a left turn for runway 11 or a right turn to runway 29. But that would mean that we would be breaking the traffic pattern rule for runway 29, as we would be making a right hand instead of left hand pattern approach. But to be honest this is the one that makes more sense to me, as the decision point is pretty much above the runway. Maybe because it’s an IFR approach, the traffic pattern doesn’t matter (?).

So, questions:

1. What should be the circle to land approach to be used in KSBP, image A or B?
2. In the chart there is a statement saying "circle-to-land not authorized North of runway 11-29". This confuses me a bit, because when you make a circle to land for runway 11, you’ll be flying North of the runway anyway. Does this statement means that North in this context is farther north (close to the mountains)?

I really appreciate your inputs. Thank you for your time.

UPDATE: Unfortunately I am new in the Forum and they don't allow me to add the images. I hope you will understand the questions anyway...

How is this confusing? If you cannot circle north then you must only circle south. Whichever approach or runway you are using you fly the approach, then break off and turn south, join the south side downwind, then make a long turn in the opposite direction to intercept the reciprocal.

Because you don’t circle from MARND.
Minimums Category A-B are 1.25-1.5 miles.
That is CINOX.
Runway 7 slight sidestep to overfly the runway then turn right crosswind before reaching 11-29 then right downwind, base, final.
Runway 29 turn left downwind at appropriate distance.
Runway 11 either join right base or other wise follow runway 7 the turn 40 degrees right follow runway 11 then turn right crosswind and join the traffic pattern.

https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/2502/00989VTA.PDF

In any case for circling the Tower is required to be open, they’ll tell you to circle south.
If the weather is marginal VFR they’ll probably tell you to join a left crosswind for runway 11.

https://www.thinkaviation.net/circling-approaches/

Thank you very much. So as I understand, when flying IFR, not necessarily we fly the pattern same side as VFR (runways 11 and 29 have left hand pattern as I said (according to AirNav), and according to your reply, for runway 11 we join a right hand pattern in this approach). Now it makes sense not circling North of the runway.

I think this thread is posted in the wrong forum 🤔