Readback: April 2022

IFR Staff

Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 10:45 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Confusion exists regarding the legality of contact approaches at airports like S50, where ATC may clear pilots based on ground visibility reports from distant sources, potentially contradicting regulatory requirements.
Pilots express significant confusion and concern about the mainstream media's reporting on 5G's impact on radar altimeters, questioning their necessity in general aviation and the potential for unreliable data to affect integrated aircraft systems.
The article clarifies the critical difference between Above Ground Level (AGL) weather forecasts and Mean Sea Level (MSL) approach minimums, demonstrating how misinterpreting these can lead to incorrect assessments of approach viability, especially at high-elevation airports.

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How Can They Do That?

We have some Pilots and even CFIIs flying contact approaches into S50. The regulation for contact approach requires both flight and ground visibility of one mile. While there is some weather reporting on the field it doesn’t include any kind of visibility. Aren’t they breaking the rules? Shouldn’t ATC Approach know this isn’t allowed and refuse to give this type of clearance?