How Far Can You See?

Three simple conditions must be met to land from an instrument approach: being in a position to land, having the runway environment in sight, and possessing the required flight visibility. The first requirement is straight-forward and the second is thoroughly articulated in the regs. The third requirement, though, is a little thorny.Unlike commercial operations, which are restricted from conducting approaches with reported weather below minimums, GA pilots can take a peek no matter what the AWOS is blabbering. If you land with reported weather below minimums, an FAA inspector might ask you about the visibility. The answer is simple-you had the required flight visibility. The regulations only require you to have the flight visibility printed on the approach plate. The ol Pilot/Controller glossary defines flight visibility as:

Key Takeaways:

• GA pilots can legally land from an instrument approach even if reported weather is below minimums, provided they confirm they possess the required *flight visibility*—a subjective assessment from the cockpit.
• Accurately judging flight visibility relies on using specific visual cues from runway markings (e.g., centerline stripes, aiming points, touchdown zones) and approach lighting systems (ALS) to gauge distances.
• Understanding your aircraft's position on the glideslope at decision height is crucial to correctly interpret these visual aids, allowing for a justified decision to continue the descent and land.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.