Which circling minimums should be used when landing?

The appropriate circling minimums to be used when landing are based on the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) for the runway to which the instrument approach is being executed. The MDA is the lowest altitude to which you can descend during the approach without visual reference to the ground, and it ensures that if the approach is continued to a landing, you remain at a safe altitude above any obstacles in the area.

Utilizing the MDA for the specific runway ensures that the aircraft maintains an adequate margin of safety throughout the circling maneuver, allowing for safe maneuvers to align with the runway while avoiding terrain and obstacles. It is particularly important in circling approaches, where the pilot must transition to visual flight conditions and make a decision to land while navigating a potentially complex environment.

The other altitude considerations, such as the circling altitude or decision altitude, are important in different contexts but do not specifically govern the minimums during the landing phase of a circling approach. The circling altitude is generally related to the standard circling approach pattern, while the decision altitude is specific to precision approaches and not applicable when flying a non-precision circling maneuver.