Who can authorize a contact approach?

b. Controllers may authorize a contact approach provided: 1. The contact approach is specifically request- ed by the pilot.

How do you contact an approach?

Plus, the airport must have a published instrument approach. The tricky part about a contact approach is, there’s no missed approach procedure. So, if you can’t make it to the airport while remaining clear of clouds, you’re in trouble. If you ask for it, you should be positive you can make it in.

What is the difference between approach and contact?

A visual approach means that the pilot can see all the way to the landing zone in the runway. With a contact approach, the trailing pilot can only see the aircraft ahead of them and that leading aircraft has declared that they have the runway in sight.

Do I have to contact approach?

5 Answers. No it is not required to contact approach. Unless you have to go through a larger D, C or B airspace to get there. I don’t know of any larger Ds in the US, but there are plenty of D-airfields underneath C and B airspace.

What is a contact approach IFR?

A contact approach is an approach available to aircraft operating on an IFR flight plan, where the pilot may deviate from the published instrument approach procedure (IAP) and proceed to the destination airport by visual reference to the surface.

When should you contact ATC approach?

When do Pilots Talk to ATC? Depending on the airspace and airport, pilots may need to talk with ATC during all phases of flight including taxiing out, taking off, crossing airspaces, approaching the destination airport, landing, and taxiing in.

What is the purpose of a contact approach?

When should you contact an approach or departure?

When one controller is handling approach and departure the norm is to contact approach when you’re inbound to the field and departure when you’re outbound. When you’re just passing through the norm is to contact approach because these are generically known as approach control facilities.

Why would you request a contact approach?

A contact approach will only be issued if the aircraft is operating clear of clouds with at least 1-mile of flight visibility, with a reasonable expectation of continuing to the destination airport under those conditions.

Is a contact approach an IFR clearance?

A contact approach is an IFR Approach to an airport that does not require flying a specific procedure. airport in those conditions. The pilot assumes responsibility for obstruction clearance while conducting a contact approach. Given all that, a contact approach can be a very useful tool in certain situations.

What is an IFR visual approach?

A visual approach is an ATC authorization for an aircraft on an IFR flight plan to proceed visually and clear of clouds to the airport of intended landing. A visual approach is not a standard instrument approach procedure and has no missed approach segment. ATC must maintain applicable separation from other aircraft.

What are the requirements for a contact approach to an airport?

You need to remain clear of clouds, have 1 statute mile of flight visibility, and reasonably expect to continue to the airport in those conditions. Plus, the airport must have a published instrument approach. The tricky part about a contact approach is, there’s no missed approach procedure.

What is the contact approach?

The contact approach is often used as time- and fuel-savings method of working the air traffic control system to a pilot’s advantage. However, this shortcut comes with two important warnings: It is essentially a legalized form of scud-running, a potentially very dangerous practice.

What is the minimum ground visibility required for a contact approach?

Additionally, the reported ground visibility at the destination airport must be at least 1 statute mile. In the execution of a contact approach, the pilot is responsible for obstruction clearance, but ATC will still provide separation from other IFR or special VFR traffic.