FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)IFR Procedures and ChartsEasy
A pilot wishes to request a contact approach in lieu of flying the published instrument approach. Which condition must be satisfied for ATC to approve this request?
- AThe airport must be reporting at least a 1,000-foot ceiling and 3 statute miles visibility
- BATC may issue a contact approach at their discretion, without any request from the pilot
- CThe pilot must request it, have at least 1 statute mile flight visibility, and reasonably expect to continue to the airport clear of clouds
- DThe approach may only be conducted during daylight hours within Class D airspace
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The pilot must request it, have at least 1 statute mile flight visibility, and reasonably expect to continue to the airport clear of clouds
A contact approach must be requested by the pilot, not initiated by ATC, and requires at least 1 statute mile flight visibility with a reasonable expectation of continuing to the destination clear of clouds; it does not require specific reported ceiling/visibility values like a visual approach.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. That ceiling/visibility standard applies more closely to visual approach criteria, not contact approaches.
- B. Contact approaches can only be initiated at the pilot's request, never by ATC.
- D. There is no daylight-only or Class D-only restriction on contact approaches.
Contact Approach
A pilot-requested approach in which the pilot proceeds visually to the airport with at least 1 SM flight visibility, remaining clear of clouds, in lieu of completing the full instrument approach.
- Must be requested by the pilot, never assigned by ATC
- Requires 1 SM flight visibility minimum
- Aircraft must be clear of clouds throughout
Memory trick: Contact = pilot's call, 1 mile and clear