Can someone explain me what "circle to land" means?Today, for the first time, the ATC cleared me to land by saying "VOR DME 9 runway approach circle to land runway 27" (I was landing at TCNM, Princess Juliana, St Marteen, airport does not have ILS).I don't know what it means and how it is supposed to be used to land on airports without ILS, even in IFR.Any help?Thanks.Eric

It is basically an instrument approach to get you to a point close to the airport when you can establish a visual approach. When the surface winds cause the runway that doesn't have an ILS approach to be active, ATC will issue the Circle To Land instruction.In this case runway 27 more than likely has no ILS / VOR DME instrument approach.ATC basically gives you an approach so you establish a visual on the airport and then pretty much land VFR (although there might be MDA for a Circle to Land Approach at that airport), you'll have to check the charts.Hope this helps:Barry

Hi,It was asked a short while ago, check these postings:http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...ing_type=search

"VOR DME 9 runway approach circle to land runway 27" It means,, that runway 27 is the way to land cause of wind maybe... but then runway 27 does not have an approach or you may have requested another VOR DME 9 rwy approach.. in which case as you approach runway 9.. when you reach certain altitude (Circle to land minumum).. you abandon your VOR DME 9 rwy approach ..take a side step... go downwind,then base and then final (Basically the opposite end of your initial rwy) and land all visual generally around 500 AGL.. from the point you leave your initial approach. Once you have visual contact as you come in your original approach (In this case VOR DME 9 rwy) you abandon it..and then circle and land on rwy 27.Does that make sense?

From the FAAH: 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control Handbook)http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/ATC/Chp4/atc0408.html#4-8-6Also, I recomend that anyone with ATC questions bookmark this document. http://www.faa.gov/ATpubs/ATC/index.htmAll the answers are found therin.Cheers,bt (ex-ATC)

HelloJust finished this:http://www.flywestwind.com/WTC/WTC/checkride.htmRegards,Ed Ward, Jr.

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Where'd ya find that plate??Chris

https://164.214.2.62/products/digitalaero/index.cfm#term2

Salut Eric,Circling is definitely not allowed at Juliana, because of terrain. And you would most likely never get clearance to runway 27, for the same reason and also because of prevailing winds. The trade winds here are predominantly easterly. Even on a calm day, you would still get the runway 9 approach.So, either you had winds set up incorrectly or you were not using real weather. The FS ATC sent you to the wrong runway.That VOR/DME is a nice approach to practice anyway, because it is a DME Arc. It also shows that this whole fascination with Juliana is not justified, since the approach is basically over open water, not particularly complicated, challenging, or exciting (except for the tourists on the beach who get blown into the water by the jet blast!)On the other hand, the St. Barths approach is a real challenge. Try that one with some light to moderate turbulence! Best regards.Luis

Thanks to everybody for your answers, it is now perfectly clear.Indeed, I was not flying with real weather, and I was surprised that ATC directs me to RWY27, as RWY9 was looking much easier. But as you mentoned, the wind was not from the real weather.In addition, I am not surprised that the ATC is inconsistent with the reality. I like to have AI and computer-controlled ATC in FS2004, but it is not realistic. I really regret it doesn't respect the SID/STAR procedures. In TNCM, it even directs the aircraft in a mountain during the approach... Maybe it will be improved in FS2006, who knows...Eric