Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Flight Instructor Seminar / Chicago, June 13th and 14th, 2012

Circling

Presented by
Capt. David Owens / Senior Director Flight Crew Training Policy
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Content

• What is the issue? - Case Study

• What are the rules?

• How should we fly a circle to land?

• Conclusions

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 2
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

What is the issue?

• Circling approach is nothing new – always a challenge
• Used to be frequent and normal operations
• Today, not as frequent and no longer recurrent training
for everyone
• Is this a risk?

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 3
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Case Study - Synopsis

• Aircraft carried out an ILS approach to runway 36 to be
followed by a circling approach to runway 18

• After 45° break off, the downwind leg was not performed and
aircraft continued in approximate straight flight

• Several TAWS cautions and warnings were triggered without

adequate crew reaction

• Aircraft flew into terrain, no survivors were reported

• CPT experience 25 000h (1000h on type), F/O 2 000h (300h
on type)

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 4
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Case Study - Circling approach

• At MDA circling
• Level off using FCU altitude
• AP1 in ALT / HDG mode
• After the 45° break off, track was maintained with no downwind leg established

• SEC-FPLN (including pilot waypoints) activated

• 4.5NM on the 45° break off track, NAV mode engaged

• 2 minutes before impact, approaching mountainous area,

several TAWS cautions and warning were triggered, with no
adequate flight path correction taken.

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 5
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Case Study - Event Vs SOP

• No adequate response
to multiple TAWS alerts WPT2
15x TAWS warnings

5x TAWS cautions

WPT1

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 6
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

What is a circling approach?

“When landing runway is different from instrument

approach RWY”

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 7
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Content

• What is the issue? - Case Study

• What are the rules?

• How should we fly a circle to land?

• Conclusions

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 8
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Circling approach rules

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 9
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Circling approach rules

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 10
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

What about the missed approach?

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 11
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

TERPS vs PANS-OPS is very serious for a pilot.

• How do you know whether a procedure is T or P?

• Airports in the same country do not use the same design
criteria, (CIVIL: Pans-Ops, MIL: Terps)
• Not all chart providers publish the information on their charts

TERPS? PANS OPS?

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 12
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Circling approach rules - Minimum Obstacle Clearance

The manoeuvring area under TERPS is

! MUCH SMALLER than ICAO ones

A/C Cat A B C D E

PANS-OPS 295 ft 295ft 394ft 394ft 492ft

US –TERPS 300ft 300ft 300ft 300ft 300ft

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 13
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

TERPS vs PANS-OPS is a concern for a pilot.

FAA A/C n0 8260.3B US TERPS

A/C category A B C D E

Minimum
Visibility
1.9 km 2.8 km 3.7 km 4.6 km 6.5 km
PANS-OPS Minimum visibility ?
Minimum
Visibility 1.6 km 1.6 km 2.4 km 3.2 km 3.2 km
US TERPS
Minimum Visibility at OCA

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 14
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Content

• What is the issue? - Case Study

• What are the rules?

• How should we fly a circle to land?

• Conclusions

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 15
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Airbus published references

Rules – especially protected area FAA vs JAA

Reference source Airbus. FCOM, FCTM, BG

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 16
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

Approach preparation

• Chart – protected area/terrain

• Approach configuration / MDA
• Preparation of SEC F-PLN (Copy active,
change runway to actual landing runway)
• Optimum use of ND

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 17
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 18
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

Instrument Approach

• Gear down, conf 3

• For an ILS use FD in HDG/VS
• NPA = TRK/FPA

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 19
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

At MDA for circling

Level off and fly not lower than MDA The pilot is able to
determine his aircraft’s
(Anticipation, use of AP) position in relation to
the runway with the aid
• Push to level off or press ALT of the external
• Select TRK/FPA references. IEM to
Appendix 1 to JAR-OPS
• Arm 45 degree track 1.430, 4.2 and 3.2

• If visual: join downwind (visual?)

• Pull HDG for track
• If not visual; Go-around

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 20
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

Timing for Circling

• 30 seconds from wings level

• Adjust for strong Head or Tail wind
• Use of ND
• Visual exercise – timings are approximate

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 21
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

Downwind
• Maintain visual (Lateral distance and Track)
• Adjust Track for wind as necessary
• Activate SEC F-PLN (Keep DISCONTINUITY)
• Disconnect AP and remove FD when appropriate
(at the latest before any further descent)

When the secondary flight plan is activated, the valid

missed approach procedure is no longer available.
NAV In case of GO AROUND, it must be flown in SELECTED
mode as briefed.

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 22
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

Downwind Abeam
• Start time abeam threshold (3 sec per 100 ft)
• What about airspeed/tail wind?
• Visual exercise – timings are approximate
• Use ND

ABM

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 23
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Use of ND for Situational Awareness

VISUAL, all timings are approximate,
use ND as a guide ONLY

•2.5 Nm offset?
•Position downwind?
•Track downwind?
•Abeam Threshold?
•Tailwind for timing?
•Crosswind?
•Terrain?

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 24
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

Final turn

• Initially, maintain 25° bank

• Maintain altitude until runway threshold identified
• Set LDG configuration when appropriate
• Stable by 400ft AAL

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 25
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

45°

400 ft AAL
stabilized

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 26
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Standard Circling Approach

It is expected that the pilot

will make an initial climbing
turn toward the landing
runway and overhead the
aerodrome where he will
establish the aeroplane in a
climb on the missed
approach track.
IEM to Appendix 1 to JAR-
OPS 1.430, 3.1

45°

400 ft AAL
stabilized

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 27
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Be aware of exceptions

Remember, in case of missed

approach…
Always fly the go-around of the
initial instrument approach.
Pilot is expected to manoeuvre
to enable this but always
within the protected area

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 28
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

What about Engine Out?

In case of Engine Out…

• All aircraft – ref QRH
• Check table for weight (320/330)
• Delay gear

If the approach is flown at less than 750 ft

RA, the “L/G NOT DOWN” warning will be
triggered – can be cancelled.
NAV
The “TOO LOW GEAR” warning will be
triggered below 500 ft
45°
RA.
45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 29
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Use of NAV?

Standard circle to land is visual,

NO Pilot WPTs (PBD)
NAV
NO NAV
NO AP below Circling minima

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 30
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Content

• What is the issue? - Case Study

• What are the rules?

• How should we fly a circle to land?

• Conclusions

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 31
 Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

Conclusion

• Airbus recommends all operators examine their

operation and training regarding circling approach
• What about RNP?

45°

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. Page 32
Flight Instructor Seminar June 2012

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document. This document and all information contained herein is the sole property of AIRBUS S.A.S. No intellectual property rights are granted by the
delivery of this document or the disclosure of its content. This document shall not be reproduced or disclosed to a third party without the express written consent of AIRBUS S.A.S. This document and its content shall not be
used for any purpose other than that for which it is supplied. The statements made herein do not constitute an offer. They are based on the mentioned assumptions and are expressed in good faith. Where the supporting
grounds for these statements are not shown, AIRBUS S.A.S. will be pleased to explain the basis thereof.
AIRBUS, its logo, A300, A310, A318, A319, A320, A321, A330, A340, A350, A380, A400M are registered trademarks.

Page 33

© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.