overhead approach maneuver

A maneuver carried out by a pilot who is operating in accordance with an IFR (instrument flight rules) flight plan in VMC (visual meteorological conditions) over an airport. This maneuver is not an instrument procedure. Overhead maneuvers are developed at airports where aircraft have an operational need to conduct the maneuver. An aircraft conducting an overhead maneuver is considered to be under visual flight rules, and the IFR flight plan is canceled when the aircraft crosses the landing threshold on the initial approach portion of the maneuver. The existence of a standard overhead maneuver does not eliminate the possible requirement for an aircraft to conform to conventional rectangular patterns if an overhead maneuver cannot be approved. The pattern usually specifies the radio contact required by the pilot, the speed to be maintained, an initial approach of 3 to 5 NM (5 to 9 km), an elliptical pattern of two 180° turns, the duration of time, the altitude (at least 500 ft, or 150 m, above the conventional pattern), and a rollout on final approach not less than 1/4 mile (400 m) from the landing threshold and not less than 300 ft (90 m) above ground level.