"Shut up or you'll get beat up in the parking lot" - Dr. Bill
When you perform an instrument approach procedure to circling minimums, you are taught to perform a nice "circle" to the runway of your choice maintaining visual contact with that runway. The geometry of the circling maneuver is not always prescribed, leading pilots to think they can circle in any direction to make the runway. Unfortunately, that "just ain't so".
Which way do you circle?
There question was answered by the FAA Chief Counsel through various letters between 2009 and 2014. But before we get into that, take a look at this image. It's from the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) and depicts circling maneuvers to either the left or the right.
This led IFR students to believe that you could perform right or left "patterns" - just like under VFR - to make the circle work. However, FAR 91.126(b) specifies that all turns, in class G airspace, must be made to the left unless marked differently (i.e., airport has a right traffic pattern). Daniel Murphy asked clarifications to the FAA in 2009 if turns to the right could be made if conditions and safety allowed for it. This was quickly denied by the FAA with a formal letter.
FAR 91.126(b)(1) is pretty clear on the subject and not open to interpretation. It is also worthy to note that in 2014 the FAA Chief Counsel responded to Collins with a letter specifying that ATC does not have authority within class G airspace. As such, they are not allowed to clear you to circle "left or right" when landing at a field.
The same rule applies to class E airports, since the regulation for class E refers back to 91.126:
Daniel Murphy continued corresponding with the FAA in 2014 to discuss that image in the IFH and whether it allows the execution of the maneuver without a deviation. The FAA responded to Murphy - just like two other dudes, that the image is for illustration purposes only, not regulatory.
Mitchell Grossman (2011) then asked if performing a right turn to enter a left traffic pattern - like when you turn right to enter 45 degrees to the left downwind - constitutes a violation of 91.126(b)(1). The answer from the FAA with another letter states that right turn is to enter the pattern, and therefore perfectly fine.
In conclusion, you must always circle to the left unless:
The airport has a published or depicted right traffic pattern
ATC clears you for circling in a certain direction within controlled airspace
Concerning Circling Minimums
It came to my attention that some pilots confuse the meaning of minimum descent altitude (MDA) for a circle. That is NOT the altitude at which you must circle. That is the lowest you can go before you have to go missed. This is very important because if you can, level off at traffic pattern altitude (TPA) and fly at a safe height for a stable landing.
During training, I recommend you do fly at circling minimums (if traffic allows) so that you can see how dangerous it is and understand why pilots may not survive the maneuver.
Random Example
To tickle your mind, here is a confusing chart that may make pilots think circling to the right can be ok under other circumstances. the below chart is for the VOR-A approach at Crestview, FL (KCEW). One of the notes states that circling is not authorized for cat D west of runway 17-35. Both runways are left traffic. In the case of runway 17, the pilot can simply overfly the runway and then turn left for the left downwind. But for runway 35, you can only enter the left downwind by circling west of the runway. Therefore the pilots are not authorized to circle to that runway at all if they want to abide with 91.127. The note is not untrue, but it almost invites you to circle east of the runway instead. In my opinion, the note should state "Circling to Rwy 35 NA for Cat D".
Now you too can make a nerdy point on this regulation with your fellow aviators. Just beware. They may beat you up in a parking lot.
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