Sneak in the Side Door

Before you get a contact approach, some more boxes need to be checked, starting with weather minimums on par with Special VFR and Class G airspace. AIM 5-4-25 kicks off with them: Pilots operating in accordance with an IFR flight plan, provided they are clear of clouds and have at least one mile flight visibility and can reasonably expect to continue to the destination airport in those conditions, may request ATC authorization for a contact approach.

tkarmer

Monday, July 01, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A contact approach is a pilot-initiated visual procedure for IFR flights in reduced visibility, placing sole responsibility for terrain and cloud clearance on the pilot; ATC cannot suggest or authorize it without a pilot's explicit request.
Authorization requires strict weather minimums, including at least one statute mile flight and ground visibility, remaining clear of clouds, and a reasonable expectation of continuing to the airport.
The destination airport must have a published and functioning instrument approach procedure, and ATC must ensure separation, often by sterilizing airspace, which can limit its use at busy airports.
This procedure is not intended as a "cheat" to operate to airports without instrument approach procedures or to discontinue an approach at one airport to proceed to another.

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Sea fog is an old nemesis of sailors and aviators alike. I’ve worked coastal airports where the stuff would form offshore and then spread over the airfield. One minute, beautiful VFR. The next, hangars and runways were being smothered in mist.

On days like those, instrument approaches were the usual solution. However, we also got to use visual procedures designed for such situations. Special VFR was a big one. VFR on top was pretty common too.