Don't Orbit in the Circuit
Orbiting in the NZPP circuit is not permitted except in an emergency; if separation is lost, climb to 1,500 ft and vacate the circuit safely.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
Here's some clarification on best practice around orbiting in the circuit at Paraparaumu.
The standard procedure for orbiting in the circuit is a 360° medium turn in the opposite direction to the circuit. It's commonly used at controlled aerodromes to create extra spacing between aircraft – but when orbiting, it's crucial to be aware of other traffic, particularly any aircraft following or nearby.
Although CAA guidance and the AIP don't specifically mention avoiding orbits at uncontrolled aerodromes, the practice is strongly discouraged. An orbiting aircraft will at some point be flying in the opposite direction to the circuit at the same altitude, which can easily lead to a dangerous situation.
If you need to leave the circuit because separation has been lost, the preferred method is to climb to 1,500 ft and then vacate, making sure you maintain safe separation from other traffic. Continuing in the circuit without adequate separation, or where there's potential for conflict, is not acceptable.