What type of approach requires circling to land?

The type of approach that requires circling to land is a non-precision approach. Non-precision approaches typically do not provide lateral guidance to the runway, relying instead on pilot navigation and visual references for landing. In these cases, once the aircraft reaches the minimum safe altitude defined for the approach, the pilot may need to execute a circling maneuver to align with the runway.

When flying a non-precision approach, pilots often plan for a visual reference for landing after completing the approach sequence. This could involve maneuvering the aircraft in a circle to line up with the runway threshold, especially in configurations where the approach path does not directly align with the runway direction. This contrasts with precision approaches that provide both lateral and vertical guidance, allowing for a more straightforward landing without the need for circling.