Which approach type is most likely to require visual contact with the runway environment during the final phase?

Which approach type is most likely to require visual contact with the runway environment during the final phase?

• A. Circling approach
• B. ILS approach
• C. RNAV approach
• D. Par approach

Answer: (A)

Circling approaches rely on visual information to complete the landing. After you descend to the circling minimums on an instrument approach, there isn’t a single, aligned instrument path all the way to the runway. You must see the runway environment and maneuver visually within the published circle-to-land area to align with the chosen runway and land safely. If you lose sight of the runway, you must execute a missed approach. Other approaches provide a defined instrument path to the runway (such as a precision or final approach with a glide path, or a straight-in RNAV path). In those cases, you can complete the final phase using the instrument guidance, with visual contact primarily required only to verify the landing environment at the final moment rather than to perform the entire final maneuver. Hence, circling is the approach type most likely to require visual contact with the runway environment during the final phase.

Circling approaches rely on visual information to complete the landing. After you descend to the circling minimums on an instrument approach, there isn’t a single, aligned instrument path all the way to the runway. You must see the runway environment and maneuver visually within the published circle-to-land area to align with the chosen runway and land safely. If you lose sight of the runway, you must execute a missed approach.

Other approaches provide a defined instrument path to the runway (such as a precision or final approach with a glide path, or a straight-in RNAV path). In those cases, you can complete the final phase using the instrument guidance, with visual contact primarily required only to verify the landing environment at the final moment rather than to perform the entire final maneuver. Hence, circling is the approach type most likely to require visual contact with the runway environment during the final phase.