Sitting in Limbo

Air traffic control has its challenges. Thats obvious when we controllers are working heavy traffic that tests our planning, reflexes, and intestinal fortitude. However, even off position, were sometimes put on the spot about our aviation knowledge.

tkarmer

Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots on an IFR flight plan are legally required to receive an explicit "cleared visual approach" clearance; it is the pilot's ultimate responsibility to obtain this, even if ATC has the airport and traffic in sight.
If ATC fails to issue a necessary clearance, or an instruction would lead to a rule violation, the pilot must request clarification or an amended clearance, rather than proceeding on assumption or logic.
Upon contacting Tower without an approach clearance, pilots must adhere to their last assigned instructions (e.g., heading and altitude) and explicitly inform Tower about the missing clearance, rather than just checking in for landing.
Pilots should prioritize safety by honestly assessing their ability to land from their current position and be prepared to request maneuvers or initiate a go-around if a safe approach cannot be made.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Air traffic control has its challenges. That’s obvious when we controllers are working heavy traffic that tests our planning, reflexes, and intestinal fortitude. However, even off position, we’re sometimes put on the spot about our aviation knowledge.

And so it was the other day when a pilot friend called me out of the blue with an ATC question. I like fielding questions from pilots. They make me dig deep into my understanding of our rules and procedures. It’s always worthwhile to challenge any previously held assumptions and revisit exactly what the regulations say.