Frontier Oral Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Exam Prep Guide

In a circle-to-land maneuver, you must stay at an altitude that provides enough obstacle clearance while you maneuver to land. The rule is to use the higher of two values: the published circling minimum altitude (MDA) for the approach you’re circling, or 1,000 feet above the airport elevation (HAA). You descend to the circling MDA if that value is higher than 1,000 ft above the airport; otherwise, you remain at 1,000 ft above the airport. This safety buffer accounts for the extra maneuvering and potential clearance issues around the airport during the circling phase.

So, the correct approach is to use whichever is higher between the circling MDA and 1,000 ft HAA. That’s why the option stating the higher of those two values is the best choice. Using only straight-in minimums wouldn’t guarantee adequate clearance for circling, and using just 1,000 ft HAA ignores the possibility that the circling MDA could be higher.