View Full Version : In Circuit
At what point do you eagle eyed controllers determine when an aircraft is 'in circuit'. Is it after having made a downwind call, at initials, on rejoin etc?
Help please.
Spitoon
3rd Sep 2007, 17:46
There's no definition and I imagine you would get different answers from different people. My view would be when the aircraft is established on a leg of the circuit, manoeuvring to join in accordance with ATC instructions or when it needs traffic info on another aircraft in the circuit.....but I might change my answer in a particular situation!
Can you give more info on why you ask? It may help to refine the answer.
Yahweh
3rd Sep 2007, 18:44
For VFR's which usually enter the overhead and descend on the dead side to join the circuit pattern I would imagine they are deemed to be in the circuit once at circuit hight on the crosswind leg. I could and most probably am wrong though.
Spitoon
If you receive a call from Air Traffic "all aircraft in circuit continue circuit and land" would this apply to an aircraft rejoining extended downwind ? or an aircraft approaching initials ?, or one one climbing out ? etc.
Spitoon
4th Sep 2007, 16:51
OK, tricky question without knowing all of the circumstances. It's not a call that I would make myself nor is it a standard phrase in the UK civil world - and I'm not sure what might make it necessary. I would try to give more specific instructions to each aircraft if time permits - if there is an aircraft inbound with an emergency (the only circumstances that I can think of where one might want everything to land in a hurry), subject to a couple of provisos I probably would try to persuade aircraft to stay airborne.
To respond to your specific examples, joining on an extended downwind (i.e. clearance has been issued) I would consider to be in the circuit. The phrase 'approaching initials' suggests this is a military field - so I am not the best person to answer, never having thought I look good in a uniform. The mil procedures may give a definitive answer but my own view is that, no, that's not in the circuit yet. On the climb out....if the aircraft is departing (even to the local training area) no, not in the circuit but if it planned to do circuits, then yes.
But this is all a bit subjective - feed me a bit more info and maybe I'll refine my answer (=change my mind).