A circling approach is described as which of the following?

• A. A visual manoeuvre to be conducted only in IMC
• B. A visual flight manoeuvre keeping the runway environment in sight while at MDA/H.
• C. A visual flight manoeuvre that may be carried out as long as visual ground contact can be maintained.
• D. A visual flight manoeuvre to be performed when radar vectoring is available.

Answer: (B)

Circling is a visual maneuver used after an instrument approach when the intended runway isn’t aligned with the final approach course. The key point is you must have the runway environment in sight and then maneuver visually to position for the landing, while operating at the published minimums (MDA or height). That’s why describing circling as a visual flight maneuver kept in sight of the runway environment while at MDA/H best captures how it’s executed: you descend to the approach minimums, then visually circle to align with the chosen runway for landing.

It isn’t limited to IMC, and it doesn’t require radar vectoring. It also isn’t simply any ground contact; the essential requirement is maintaining visual reference to the runway environment during the circle.