Section 4. Approaches
7-4-1. VISUAL APPROACH
A visual approach is an ATC authorization for an
aircraft on an IFR flight plan to proceed visually to the
airport of intended landing; it is not an instrument
approach procedure. Also, there is no missed
approach segment. An aircraft unable to complete a
visual approach shall be handled as any go-around
and appropriate separation must be provided.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-20, Wake Turbulence
Cautionary Advisories.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 3-10-2, Forwarding Approach
Information by Nonapproach Control Facilities.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-2-1, Visual Separation.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-4, Approaches to Multiple Runways.
7-4-2. VECTORS FOR VISUAL APPROACH
A vector for a visual approach may be initiated if the
reported ceiling at the airport of intended landing is
at least 500 feet above the MVA/MIA and the
visibility is 3 miles or greater. At airports without
weather reporting service there must be reasonable
assurance (e.g. area weather reports, PIREPs, etc.)
that descent and flight to the airport can be made
visually, and the pilot must be informed that weather
information is not available.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Ident) FLY HEADING OR TURN RIGHT/LEFT
HEADING (degrees) VECTOR FOR VISUAL
APPROACH TO (airport name).
(If appropriate)
WEATHER NOT AVAILABLE.
NOTE-
At airports where weather information is not available, a
pilot request for a visual approach indicates that descent
and flight to the airport can be made visually and clear of
clouds.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 5-9-1, Vectors to Final Approach
Course.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-2-1, Visual Separation.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-3, Clearance for Visual Approach.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-4, Approaches to Multiple Runways.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-6-7, Sequencing.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-3, Separation.
7-4-3. CLEARANCE FOR VISUAL
APPROACH
ARTCCs and approach controls may clear aircraft for
visual approaches using the following procedures:
NOTE-
Towers may exercise this authority when authorized by a
LOA with the facility that provides the IFR service, or by
a facility directive at collocated facilities.
a. Controllers may initiate, or pilots may request,
a visual approach even when an aircraft is being
vectored for an instrument approach and the pilot
subsequently reports:
1. The airport or the runway in sight at airports
with operating control towers.
2. The airport in sight at airports without a
control tower.
b. Resolve potential conflicts with all other
aircraft, advise an overtaking aircraft of the distance
to the preceding aircraft and speed difference, and
ensure that weather conditions at the airport are VFR
or that the pilot has been informed that weather is not
available for the destination airport. Upon pilot
request, advise the pilot of the frequency to receive
weather information where AWOS/ASOS is available.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Ident) (instructions) CLEARED VISUAL APPROACH
RUNWAY (number);
or
(ident) (instructions) CLEARED VISUAL APPROACH TO
(airport name)
(and if appropriate)
WEATHER NOT AVAILABLE OR VERIFY THAT YOU
HAVE THE (airport) WEATHER.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-2-1, Visual Separation.
c. Clear an aircraft for a visual approach when:
1. The aircraft is number one in the approach
sequence, or
2. The aircraft is to follow a preceding aircraft
and the pilot reports the preceding aircraft in sight and
is instructed to follow it, or
NOTE-
The pilot need not report the airport/runway in sight.
3. The pilot reports the airport or runway in sight
but not the preceding aircraft. Radar separation must
be maintained until visual separation is provided.
d. All aircraft following a heavy jet/B757 must be
informed of the airplane manufacturer and model.
EXAMPLE-
"Cessna Three Four Juliet, following a Boeing 757,
12 o'clock, six miles."
e. Inform the tower of the aircraft's position prior
to communications transfer at controlled airports.
ARTS/STARS functions may be used provided a
facility directive or LOA specifies control and
communication transfer points.
f. In addition to the requirements of para 7-4-2,
Vectors for Visual Approach, and subparas a, b, c, d,
and e, ensure that the location of the destination
airport is provided when the pilot is asked to report
the destination airport in sight.
g. In those instances where airports are located in
close proximity, also provide the location of the
airport that may cause the confusion.
EXAMPLE-
"Cessna Five Six November, Cleveland Burke Lakefront
Airport is at 12 o'clock, 5 miles. Cleveland Hopkins
Airport is at 1 o'clock 12 miles. Report Cleveland Hopkins
in sight."
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-4, Approaches to Multiple Runways.
7-4-4. APPROACHES TO MULTIPLE
RUNWAYS
a. All aircraft must be informed that approaches
are being conducted to parallel/intersecting/converging runways. This may be accomplished through use
of the ATIS.
b. When conducting visual approaches to multiple
runways ensure the following:
1. Do not permit the respective aircrafts'
primary radar returns to merge unless visual
separation is being applied.
2. When the aircraft flight paths intersect,
ensure standard separation is maintained until visual
separation is provided.
c. In addition to the requirements in para
7-2-1, Visual Separation, para 7-4-1,
Visual Approach, para 7-4-2, Vectors for Visual
Approach, and para 7-4-3, Clearance for Visual
Approach, the following conditions apply to visual
approaches being conducted simultaneously to
parallel, intersecting, and converging runways, as
appropriate:
1. Parallel runways separated by less than
2,500 feet. Unless standard separation is provided by ATC, an aircraft must report sighting a preceding
aircraft making an approach (instrument or visual) to
the adjacent parallel runway. When an aircraft reports
another aircraft in sight on the adjacent final approach
course and visual separation is applied, controllers
must advise the succeeding aircraft to maintain visual
separation. However, do not permit a heavy/B757
aircraft to overtake another aircraft. Do not permit a
large aircraft to overtake a small aircraft.
2. Parallel runways separated by at least
2,500 feet, but less than 4,300 feet.
(a) Standard separation is provided until the
aircraft are established on a heading which will
intercept the extended centerline of the runway at an
angle not greater than 30 degrees, and each aircraft
has been issued and the pilot has acknowledged
receipt of the visual approach clearance.
NOTE-
The intent of the 30 degree intercept angle is to reduce the
potential for overshoots of the final, and preclude
side-by-side operations with one or both aircraft in a
"belly-up" configuration during the turn. Aircraft
performance, speed, and the number of degrees of the turn
to the final are factors to be considered by the controller
when vectoring aircraft to parallel runways.
(b) Visual approaches may be conducted to
one runway while visual or instrument approaches
are conducted simultaneously to the other runway,
provided the conditions of subpara (a) are met.
(c) Provided aircraft flight paths do not
intersect, and when the provisions of subparas (a) and
(b) are met, it is not necessary to apply any other type
of separation with aircraft on the adjacent final
approach course.
3. Parallel runways separated by 4,300 feet or
more.
(a) When aircraft flight paths do not intersect,
visual approaches may be conducted simultaneously,
provided standard separation is maintained until one
of the aircraft has been issued and the pilot has
acknowledged receipt of the visual approach
clearance.
(b) Visual approaches may be conducted to
one runway while visual or instrument approaches
are conducted simultaneously to the other runway,
provided the conditions of subpara (a) are met.
(c) Provided the aircraft flight paths do not
intersect, when the provisions of subparas (a) and (b)
are met, it is not necessary to apply any other type of
separation with aircraft on the adjacent final approach
course.
4. Intersecting and converging runways. Visual
approaches may be conducted simultaneously with
visual or instrument approaches to another runway,
provided:
(a) Standard separation is maintained until
the aircraft conducting the visual approach has been
issued and the pilot has acknowledged receipt of the
visual approach clearance.
(b) When aircraft flight paths intersect, radar
separation must be maintained until visual separation
is provided.
NOTE-
Although simultaneous approaches may be conducted to
intersecting runways, staggered approaches may be
necessary to meet the airport separation requirements
specified in para 3-10-4, Intersecting Runway
Separation.
REFERENCE-
FAAO 7110.79, Charted Visual Flight Procedures.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-4-5, Charted Visual Flight Procedures
(CVFP). USA/USN Not Applicable.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-3, Separation.
7-4-5. CHARTED VISUAL FLIGHT
PROCEDURES (CVFP). USA/USN NOT
APPLICABLE
Clear an aircraft for a CVFP only when the following
conditions are met:
a. There is an operating control tower.
b. The published name of the CVFP and the
landing runway are specified in the approach
clearance, the reported ceiling at the airport of
intended landing is at least 500 feet above the
MVA/MIA, and the visibility is 3 miles or more,
unless higher minimums are published for the
particular CVFP.
c. When using parallel or intersecting/converging
runways, the criteria specified in para 7-4-4,
Approaches to Multiple Runways, are applied.
d. An aircraft not following another aircraft on the
approach reports sighting a charted visual landmark,
or reports sighting a preceding aircraft landing on the
same runway and has been instructed to follow that
aircraft.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Ident) CLEARED (name of CVFP) APPROACH.
7-4-6. CONTACT APPROACH
Clear an aircraft for a contact approach only if the
following conditions are met:
a. The pilot has requested it.
NOTE-
When executing a contact approach, the pilot is
responsible for maintaining the required flight visibility,
cloud clearance, and terrain/obstruction clearance.
Unless otherwise restricted, the pilot may find it necessary
to descend, climb, and/or fly a circuitous route to the
airport to maintain cloud clearance and/or terrain/obstruction clearance. It is not in any way intended that
controllers will initiate or suggest a contact approach to a
pilot.
b. The reported ground visibility is at least
1 statute mile.
c. A standard or special instrument approach
procedure has been published and is functioning for
the airport of intended landing.
d. Approved separation is applied between
aircraft so cleared and other IFR or SVFR aircraft.
When applying vertical separation, do not assign a
fixed altitude but clear the aircraft at or below an
altitude which is at least 1,000 feet below any IFR
traffic but not below the minimum safe altitude
prescribed in 14 CFR Section 91.119.
NOTE-
14 CFR Section 91.119 specifies the minimum safe altitude
to be flown:
(a) Anywhere.
(b) Over congested areas.
(c) Other than congested areas. To provide for an
emergency landing in the event of power failure and
without undue hazard to persons or property on the
surface.
(d) Helicopters. May be operated at less than the
minimums prescribed in paras (b) and (c) above if the
operation is conducted without hazard to persons or
property on the surface.
e. An alternative clearance is issued when weather
conditions are such that a contact approach may be
impracticable.
PHRASEOLOGY-
CLEARED CONTACT APPROACH,
And if required,
AT OR BELOW (altitude) (routing).
IF NOT POSSIBLE, (alternative procedures), AND
ADVISE.
|