A visual approach is an approach to a runway at an airport conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), but where the pilot proceeds by visual reference and clear of clouds to the airport
Charted Visual Flight Procedures (CVFP) are published by the Federal Aviation Administration for environmental/noise considerations and/or when necessary for the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations
Designed primarily for turbojet aircraft
These procedures depict recommended procedures for pilots to follow
CVFPs are not instrument approaches and do not have a Missed Approach Points (MAP)
Unless indicating a class Bravo airspace floor all depicted altitudes are for noise abatement purposes and recommended only
Pilots may fly other than recommended altitudes if operational requirements dictate
ATC may assign additional restrictions
Charted Visual Approach Procedure Purpose:
A CVFP may be developed when the Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility manager, in coordination with airport management, determines that the procedure would mitigate aircraft noise or improve safety and efficiency
Development of a CVFP should only be considered after PBN approach options are exhausted
Depict prominent landmarks, courses, and recommended altitudes to specific runways
Most charts depict some Navigational Aid (NAVAID) information for supplemental navigation guidance, beginning within 20 Nautical Miles (NM) from the airport
Requirements:
There is an operating control tower
ATC will not issue clearances for CVFPs when the weather is less than the published minimum
Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.155/157, visibility is determined by the PIC
Published weather minimums are based on minimum vectoring altitudes rather than recommended altitudes depicted on charts
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
If instructed to follow a preceding aircraft, pilots are responsible for maintaining a safe approach interval and wake turbulence separation
When landmarks used for navigation are not visible at night, the approach will be annotated "procedure not authorized at night"
Clearance:
ATC: "[Callsign], cleared [Approach] approach"
Pilots should advise ATC if at any point they are unable to continue an approach or lose sight of a preceding aircraft
Missed approaches will be handled as a go-around
Have pre-planned climb-out options based on aircraft performance and terrain features
When conducting visual approaches, pilots are encouraged to use other available navigational aids to assist in positive lateral and vertical alignment with the assigned runway
Conclusion:
To learn more about instrument procedures, be sure to check out the Instrument Procedures Handbook online or in paperback
