AIM Text
- Pilots operating in accordance with an IFR flight plan in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) may request ATC authorization for an overhead maneuver. An overhead maneuver is not an instrument approach procedure. Overhead maneuver patterns are developed at airports where aircraft have an operational need to conduct the maneuver. An aircraft conducting an overhead maneuver is considered to be VFR and the IFR flight plan is canceled when the aircraft reaches the initial point on the initial approach portion of the maneuver. (See FIG 5-4-34.) The existence of a standard overhead maneuver pattern does not eliminate the possible requirement for an aircraft to conform to conventional rectangular patterns if an overhead maneuver cannot be approved. Aircraft operating to an airport without a functioning control tower must initiate cancellation of an IFR flight plan prior to executing the overhead maneuver. Cancellation of the IFR flight plan must be accomplished after crossing the landing threshold on the initial portion of the maneuver or after landing. Controllers may authorize an overhead maneuver and issue the following to arriving aircraft:
- Pattern altitude and direction of traffic. This information may be omitted if either is standard.
- Request for a report on initial approach.
- “Break” information and a request for the pilot to report. The “Break Point” will be specified if nonstandard. Pilots may be requested to report “break” if required for traffic or other reasons.
FIG 5-4-34
Overhead Maneuver
Source: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual · current edition · paragraph 5-4-27.
Research Notes
AIM 5-4-27 covers Side-Step Maneuver — a published technique to transition from one approach to a parallel runway after established on the original approach.
The scenario: An airport has two parallel runways. The pilot is on an instrument approach to runway 27L but ATC clears them to land on 27R. The side-step lets the pilot transition laterally to align with the other runway after breaking out visually.
Pilot procedure:
- Fly the published approach to 27L
- At the published side-step point (typically the DH), maneuver laterally to align with 27R
- Continue visually to 27R landing
Equipment requirement: Aircraft must be able to make the side-step safely — typically smaller, more maneuverable aircraft. Heavy aircraft may decline due to wake turbulence and maneuvering limits.
Reference: AIM 5-4-27; FAA-H-8083-16.