Circuit Training at Moorabbin Airport Circuit Training at Moorabbin ...

CIRCUIT TRAINING
Circuit training, the act of repetitive take‐offs, approaches and landings, is an essential part
of pilot training. The primary reason to undertake circuit training is to gain an appreciation
and perception of the angle and attitude of approaching an airport to land. Whilst this can
be taught in theory, and many people enjoy computer flight simulations of landing, it must
be taught in practice by actually conducting a flight. This is usually almost the first task a
student pilot will perform on his or her road to becoming a qualified pilot.
Circuit training is utilised at many other stages of pilot training and during the ongoing
career of a pilot, including:
• Crosswind landing: landing when wind direction is not optimum. During their
career pilots will at many times be required to land is a crosswind or gusting wind.
• Night landings. To obtain any licence a pilot must have experience of landing at
night.
• Instrument approach: Whilst not strictly circuit training it is essential for a pilot to
learn how to land in instrument flight conditions.
• Glide approaches: Simulating an engine failure, a pilot needs to learn the
technique of landing with a failed engine.
• Assymetric landings: Simulating an engine failure, a pilot needs to learn the
technique of landing with a failed engine in a twin engine aircraft.
• Short field take‐offs and landings: Learning the procedure for arriving and
departing from small fields.
• Type qualification. Transitioning on to a new aircraft type.
• Flight currency. A pilot is required to maintain a minimum level of currency
• Helicopter landings: Learning the correct technique to land a helicopter in weather
and wind conditions.
• Helicopter auto‐rotation landings. Simulating an engine failure, a pilot needs to
learn the correct technique to land a helicopter.
What the regulations say:
Civil Aviation Regulation (CAR) 166
(2)(g) before landing, descend in a straight line starting at least 500 metres from the
threshold of the landing runway and at a distance common to the ordinary course of
navigation for the aircraft type; and
(h) after take‐off, maintain the same track from the take‐off until the aircraft is 500 feet
above the terrain unless a change to the track is necessary for terrain avoidance.
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