Premium on Safety - Issue 44, 2022 - 2
SAFETY SPOTLIGHT
all agree the situation now merits
relying on fate for a safe outcome, or
if there's a misunderstanding or an
alternative course that can win the day
with established procedures.
Tools and techniques have proliferated
to the point where comprehensive
operational risk assessment processes
are common. Risk assessment is
intended to inform and enable risk
management, but it takes some process
thinking to consistently make that leap.
The bridging between the two can be
meaningfully fortified by determining
what risk levels exist in your operation,
articulating them clearly, and getting
everyone to a common understanding
and vernacular regarding risk levels. Do
you have anecdotes, alternative views,
or examples to share on this topic?
Message me at safety@usaig.com. Fly
well, safe and smart.
Circling Approach Considerations
BY KRISTINE HARTZELL
As one of my colleagues recently put it, you don't ever really want to do a circling
approach. A circling approach is something that you do because there are no better,
straight-in options given the winds, runway length, alignment, or constraints by ATC.
Ideally, you would know well in advance that a circle was a possibility at the destination
and you would plan everything out before the flight accordingly. Sometimes however,
weather or ATC constraints change while en route and you find yourself in a position
where the only options available are to circle or divert to an alternate airport. This is
exactly what happened to us recently as we were approaching a small airport in the
midwest. Before taking off, we knew that one of the runways was closed and all of the
associated approaches were out of service. We also knew that the winds made only one
remaining runway viable for landing. That eastbound runway had an RNAV approach with
no NOTAMs, so that's the approach we planned to do; the RNAV into the favored, east
runway. Weather was forecast to be 1,000' overcast with 3 miles visibility. Winds were
gusty from the southeast and we found ourselves wishing that the closed runway wasn't
closed, but we were still well within limits for the aircraft using the east runway. As we
drew closer to the airport, we requested the RNAV to the eastbound runway, as planned.
ATC came back with a denial of that approach stating that the military training area to
the west of the field became active and the RNAV was no longer available. The options
were to conduct a circling approach from the westbound RNAV approach or divert to an
alternate airfield.
Paul Ratté
Director of Aviation Safety Programs, USAIG
Regardless of whether a circling approach was planned for before takeoff or if it was a
decision made en route, there are certain steps that we can take to make sure that the
maneuver is conducted safely.
The most important step is to take your time to prepare. Don't rush or allow ATC to make
you feel rushed. If necessary, ask for holding so that you can properly review and plan
for the circling approach. Preparation for a circling approach is critical. According to
ICAO, a circling approach has 25 times more risk than a straight in approach with vertical
guidance. If available fuel won't allow for holding to properly plan the approach, consider
diverting to the alternate. In our case, we were not prepared for the circling approach so
2
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Premium on Safety - Issue 44, 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Premium on Safety - Issue 44, 2022
Contents
Premium on Safety - Issue 44, 2022 - Contents
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