IFR Visual Approaches
If you are new to IFR flying, you may wonder why some IFR aircraft are cleared for “visual” approaches—or what that even means. Here’s the answer.
What. An IFR visual approach is a clearance for IFR traffic to proceed visually to the airport instead of flying a published instrument approach procedure (“IAP”). A visual approach has no missed approach segment (it is not an IAP); inability to complete the visual approach is handled like a VFR go-around.
How. When cleared for a visual approach on an IFR flight, the pilot must proceed to the airport for landing and remain clear of clouds. If weather is sufficient, ATC may provide vectors to set you up for the visual approach. Many pilots and operators “back up” visual approaches with an ILS or LPV approach to confirm lateral and glide path guidance to the correct runway. At towered airports, ATC may specify a particular traffic pattern or leg to be flown. Inability to complete the approach to landing results in a go-around instead of a missed approach.
When. ATC may issue—or the pilot may request—a visual approach when weather permits descent and approach to landing in visual conditions, clear of clouds. IFR traffic can be cleared for a visual approach when the reported or expected weather at the airport of intended landing is at least 1,000 ft AGL ceiling and 3 SM visibility. The clearance may be issued only after ATC verifies that the pilot has either the airport or traffic to follow (where applicable) in sight. The IFR visual approach is an IFR clearance, so the aircraft remains on an IFR flight plan and clearance during the visual approach.
If the airport does not have weather reporting services, then there must be reasonable assurance through area weather reports and PIREPs that a descent and approach to land may be made visually—and the pilot must be informed that weather information is not available.
Pilot/Controller Responsibilities. Once the pilot confirms the airport or traffic to follow in sight (where applicable), traffic separation and maintenance of safe altitudes become the pilot’s responsibility. When cleared for a visual approach, obstacle clearance is pilot’s responsibility. If the pilot reports the airport in sight but does not yet see the traffic they are assigned to follow, the clearance may still be issued—but the controller maintains aircraft separation and wake turbulence responsibilities until the pilot reports the traffic to follow in sight.
Why. Efficiency! A controller can only clear one aircraft at a time for an IAP—but visual approaches may be cleared when other aircraft are on IAPs or on approaches to parallel, intersecting, or converging runways. So using visual approaches when weather permits can speed traffic flow into and out of an airport.
Summary:
An IFR visual approach is clearance to descend for approach and landing visually in lieu of an IAP when on an IFR flight plan and clearance
Clearance can be issued only when pilot confirms the airfield (or traffic to follow, if applicable) in sight
Pilot must remain clear of clouds
Obstacle clearance, safe altitudes, and traffic separation are pilot’s responsibility
No missed approach, only a go-around
If pilot reports traffic to follow in sight, then traffic separation becomes pilot’s responsibility
Radar services are terminated upon transfer to tower frequency
