What is the ICAO missed approach after a circling approach?

Under ICAO procedures, if visual reference is lost during a circling approach, start an immediate climb and turn towards the landing runway while remaining within the circling area. Then establish on and fly the published missed approach for the instrument procedure used, unless ATC or the chart gives different instructions.

In our Aviation & Real-World Flying guidance, this is the circling missed approach. It is not a standard runway-heading go-around, because the aircraft may be on downwind, base or final when the manoeuvre begins.

What is the ICAO circling missed-approach sequence?

The ICAO sequence combines an immediate go-around with a position-dependent transition to the charted missed-approach track.

1. Initiate the go-around. Apply the aircraft's prescribed go-around power, establish a positive climb and manage configuration according to its operating procedure. Do not continue circling in the hope of regaining visual contact.
2. Turn towards the landing runway. Make a climbing turn towards the runway while remaining inside the protected circling area. The required direction and amount of turn depend on whether the aircraft is on downwind, base or final.
3. Join the published missed-approach track. Manoeuvre from the circling position to intercept the missed route without taking an unprotected shortcut across terrain.
4. Fly the charted procedure. Once established, comply with its track, climb, altitude and holding instructions. Tell ATC that you are going around and report your position if the unusual geometry could cause confusion.

The required visual reference must be maintained throughout the circling manoeuvre. Entering cloud, losing sight of the required runway environment or becoming unable to remain safely within the circling area calls for an immediate missed approach.

Which published missed approach should you fly?

Fly the missed approach belonging to the instrument procedure from which the circling manoeuvre began, not a procedure selected merely because it serves the intended landing runway.

For example, if an approach to Runway 09 is followed by circling to Runway 27, the default missed approach is the one printed for the Runway 09 instrument procedure. A separate Runway 27 missed approach is not automatically applicable. Our guide to identifying the missed-approach point, initial track and altitude on aviation charts explains what must be extracted from the plate before starting the approach.

Charted circling-specific instructions take precedence. ATC may also issue an alternative missed-approach clearance; read it back and use it if accepted. If no alternative has been issued, the published procedure remains the default.

Why does ICAO require the initial turn towards the runway?

Turning towards the landing runway helps keep the aircraft inside the protected circling area while it climbs and returns to a known geometry from which the missed track can be intercepted.

This does not necessarily mean flying runway heading, aiming directly at the threshold or crossing overhead at a fixed altitude. A missed approach from downwind requires a different path from one started on base or short final. The aircraft should remain within the circling area until established on the prescribed missed-approach course.

A mistake we see in simulators is turning directly towards the missed-approach holding fix. That may cut outside the protected area or cross terrain the procedure was never designed to clear. The published missed route assumes commencement near its missed-approach point; a circling aircraft can be well away from that position.

How should the FMS and autopilot be handled?

Do not assume pressing TOGA will produce the correct circling transition, because the FMS may sequence a missed approach from the charted runway or missed-approach point rather than the aircraft's actual position.

Use the aircraft's approved go-around mode and, where necessary, manual flight or a selected heading to make the initial climbing turn. Engage or re-engage managed navigation only when the commanded path sensibly intercepts the published missed route. Check the navigation display before accepting any automatic turn.

Aircraft-specific pitch, thrust and configuration actions remain unchanged; our missed-approach and go-around procedure covers those core actions without replacing the special circling transition.

What should be briefed before a circling approach?

A useful circling briefing covers both the visual pattern and the escape route before descent begins.

• The intended landing runway and circling direction.
• The applicable circling minimum, shown as OCA/H or used operationally as MDA/H according to the charting system.
• Any prohibited circling sectors and terrain close to the protected area.
• The published missed approach's initial track, altitude, climb requirement and holding fix.
• The likely turn towards the runway from downwind, base and final.
• The navigation source and FMS mode needed to intercept the missed route.
• Any alternative missed-approach instructions issued by ATC.

The visual pattern itself, including speed, spacing and remaining within protected limits, is covered in our practical guide to flying a circling approach. If the transition cannot be briefed clearly from the chart, the circling approach should not be started.