Visual Approaches

Introduction:
Visual approaches are an IFR procedure conducted under IFR in visual meteorological conditions and clear of clouds to the airport
ATC: "[Callsign], fly [Instructions], vectors for visual approach to [Airport Name/Runway]"
Visual approaches reduce pilot/controller workload and expedite traffic by shortening flight paths to the airport
It is the pilot's responsibility to advise ATC as soon as possible if a visual approach is not desired

Visual Approach Conditions:

Advise ATC if you can no longer maintain the following requirements:
1. The airport or preceding aircraft in sight
If the preceding aircraft is not in sight, the controller is responsible for aircraft separation
2. Authorized under the control of the appropriate traffic control facility
ATC may authorize this type of approach when is be operationally beneficial
Can be requested by the pilot, or rejected in favor of a full IAP
Pilot assumes traffic separation & obstruction clearance when proceeding visually
3. Reported weather at the airport must be a ceiling at or above 1,000' and visibility at 3 SM or greater (VMC)
Cloud clearance requirements of 14 CFR 91.155 are not applicable unless required by operation specifications
4. When conducting visual approaches, pilots are encouraged to use other available navigational aids to assist in positive lateral and
vertical alignment with the runway
A visual approach is not an IAP and therefore has no missed approach segment
If a go-around is necessary for any reason, aircraft operating at controlled airports will be issued an appropriate advisory
clearance/instruction by the tower
At uncontrolled airports, aircraft are expected to remain clear of clouds and complete a landing as soon as possible
If a landing cannot be accomplished, the aircraft is expected to remain clear of clouds and contact ATC as soon as possible for further
clearance
Separation from other IFR aircraft will be maintained under these circumstances
Authorization to conduct a visual approach is an IFR authorization and does not alter IFR flight plan cancellation responsibility see AIM,
Canceling IFR Flight Plan, Paragraph 5-1-15
Radar service is automatically terminated, without advising the pilot, when the aircraft is instructed to change to advisory frequency
ATC Service is terminated when told to contact advisory frequency in the case of non-controlled fields
NOT the same thing as a visual straight-in, however, may be flown as such if location permits
For specifics on approach criteria from an ATC standpoint read 5-4-22 (c)

Operating to an Airport Without Weather Reporting Service:

ATC will advise the pilot when weather is not available at the destination airport
ATC may initiate a visual approach provided there is a reasonable assurance that weather at the airport is a ceiling at or above 1,000' and
visibility 3 miles or greater

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Operating to an Airport With an Operating Control Tower:

Aircraft may be authorized to conduct a visual approach to one runway while other aircraft are conducting IFR or VFR approaches to
another parallel, intersecting, or converging runway. ATC may authorize a visual approach after advising all aircraft involved that other
aircraft are conducting operations to the other runway. This may be accomplished through use of the ATIS
When operating to parallel runways separated by less than 2,500 feet, ATC will ensure approved separation is provided unless the
succeeding aircraft reports sighting the preceding aircraft to the adjacent parallel and visual separation is applied
When operating to parallel runways separated by at least 2,500 feet but less than 4,300 feet, ATC will ensure approved separation is
provided until the aircraft are issued an approach clearance and one pilot has acknowledged receipt of a visual approach clearance, and
the other pilot has acknowledged receipt of a visual or instrument approach clearance, and aircraft are established on a heading or
established on a direct course to a fix or cleared on an RNAV/instrument approach procedure which will intercept the extended
centerline of the runway at an angle not greater than 30°
When operating to parallel runways separated by 4,300 feet or more, ATC will ensure approved separation is provided until one of the
aircraft has been issued and the pilot has acknowledged receipt of the visual approach clearance, and each aircraft is assigned a
heading, or established on a direct course to a fix, or cleared on an RNAV/instrument approach procedure which will allow the aircraft to
intercept the extended centerline of the runway at an angle not greater than 30°
The intent of the 30 degree intercept angle is to reduce the potential for overshoots of the final and to preclude side-by-side operations
with one or both aircraft in a belly-up configuration during the turn-on

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Separation Responsibilities
If the pilot has the airport in sight but cannot see the aircraft to be followed, ATC may clear the aircraft for a visual approach; however, ATC
retains both separation and wake vortex separation responsibility
When visually following a preceding aircraft, acceptance of the visual approach clearance constitutes acceptance of pilot responsibility for
maintaining a safe approach interval and adequate wake turbulence separation

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Visual Straight-In Planning:

Used for simplicity or emergency situations
Generally, pilots desire to fly a 'standard' 3° glide-slope
Fly checkpoints to touchdown
10 NM = 3000' AGL
9 NM = 2700' AGL
8 NM = 2400' AGL
7 NM = 2100' AGL
6 NM = 1800' AGL
5 NM = 1500' AGL
4 NM = 1200' AGL
3 NM = 900' AGL
2 NM = 600' AGL
1 NM = 300' AGL
Miles x fpmile (Glide-slope) + Field Elevation = Altitude to Fly (AGL)
3° glide-slope = 300 fpmile = 3° down with the velocity vector
2.5° glide-slope = 250 fpmile, etc...

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Responsibilities:
Pilot Responsibilities:

If a visual approach is not desired, advises ATC

Complies with controller's instructions for vectors toward the airport of intended landing or to a visual position behind a preceding aircraft
The pilot must, at all times, have either the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight
After being cleared for a visual approach, proceed to the airport in a normal manner or follow the preceding aircraft
Remain clear of clouds while conducting a visual approach
If the pilot accepts a visual approach clearance to visually follow a preceding aircraft, you are required to establish a safe landing
interval behind the aircraft you were instructed to follow. You are responsible for wake turbulence separation
Advise ATC immediately if the pilot is unable to continue following the preceding aircraft, cannot remain clear of clouds, needs to climb,
or loses sight of the airport
Be aware that radar service is automatically terminated, without being advised by ATC, when the pilot is instructed to change to advisory
frequency
Be aware that there may be other traffic in the traffic pattern and the landing sequence may differ from the traffic sequence assigned by
approach control or ARTCC

Controller Responsibilities:

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 Do not clear an aircraft for a visual approach unless reported weather at the airport has a ceiling at or above 1,000' and visibility is 3
miles or greater
When weather is not available for the destination airport, inform the pilot and do not initiate a visual approach to that airport unless
there is reasonable assurance that descent and flight to the airport can be made visually
Issue visual approach clearance when the pilot reports sighting either the airport or a preceding aircraft which is to be followed
Provide separation except when visual separation is being applied by the pilot
Continue flight following and traffic information until the aircraft has landed or has been instructed to change to advisory frequency
For all aircraft, inform the pilot when the preceding aircraft is a heavy. Inform the pilot of a small aircraft when the preceding aircraft is a
B757
Visual separation is prohibited behind super aircraft
When weather is available for the destination airport, do not initiate a vector for a visual approach unless the reported ceiling at the
airport is 500' or more above the MVA and visibility is 3 miles or more. If vectoring weather minima are not available but weather at the
airport is ceiling at or above 1,000' and visibility of 3 miles or greater, visual approaches may still be conducted

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Conclusion:
To learn more about instrument procedures, be sure to check out the Instrument Procedures Handbook online or in paperback
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References:
Federal Aviation Administration - Pilot/Controller Glossary
Aeronautical Information Manual (5-5-11) Visual Approach
Aeronautical Information Manual (5-4-23) Visual Approach
Federal Aviation Regulations (91.155) Basic VFR Weather Minimums

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