What’s the difference?  You make a straight in approach to a straight in landing, right?

No so fast.  While these two terms seem to be nearly identical they actually have a completely different meaning.

Straight-In Approach:  An instrument approach wherein final approach is begun without first having executed a procedure turn  Not necessarily completed with a straight-in landing or made to straight-in landing minimums.

Straight-In Landing:  A landing made on a runway aligned within 30 degrees of the final approach course following completion of an instrument approach.

As you can see, a straight-in approach simply means that you don’t fly a procedure turn or holding-in-lieu-of procedure turn.  

To fly a straight-in approach you must ensure that you are approaching the final approach fix from a direction that does not require a procedure turn, or you have been cleared for a straight in approach.

A straight-in approach has nothing to do with the landing procedure. A straight-in approach can be made to a circle to land procedure.

Straight-in landings are landings made to a runway aligned with the approach procedure.  Landing to Runway 9 from the ILS 9 is an example of a straight-in landing.

Any circle to land is not a straight-in landing.

Remember:

Straight-in approach = no procedure turn

Straight-in landing = landing to a runway within 30 degrees of the approach