FAA Issues Alert on Visual Approach Risks

Agency points to ‘concerning’ number of high-profile incidents during flight operations.

Ryan Ewing

Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Boeing 737 on approach. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA issued Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO 25001) due to recent high-profile incidents, addressing risks associated with visual approaches for air carrier operators and pilots under Part 121 and 135.
The alert emphasizes critical communication between pilots and air traffic controllers, reaffirming the pilot in command's authority to declare "unable" if clearances compromise safety.
Recommended strategies include increased vigilance, considering instrument approaches over visual ones to maintain stability, and communicating "unable" if insufficient time or an unstable approach arises.
Aviation personnel are encouraged to report safety issues, apply Safety Management System (SMS) principles, and review existing risk mitigations to enhance safety in the increasingly complex National Airspace System.

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The FAA has released a new Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) addressing the risks associated with visual approaches during flight operations. This alert, SAFO 25001, comes in response to several recent high-profile incidents in the National Airspace System (NAS) that have raised concerns about flight safety, according to the agency.

The SAFO, issued on April 2, specifically targets air carrier operators and pilots conducting operations under Part 121 and 135 operations.