"On The Visual"
 

Hi, can someone please tell me the definition of "On The Visual"?
Thanks

Statement made by a pilot to the control tower while said pilot is executing a visual approach. (during initial call to tower after being handed off by approach.)

Okay, but when does this come in, is it when a pilot is expecting an instrument approach but the conditions are VFR?

No, usually they'll say something like this on the initial call to tower after being handed off from approach. They were cleared for a visual approach by approach. This will happen if you're on an IFR flight plan in VMC. The only time you'll get an instrument approach in these conidtions are if you request one. The only time you will likely request an instrument approach in VMC is if you're training or doing them for proficiency.

Approach: Cessna XXX contact tower

You: Contact tower, Cessna XXX

You: Tower, Cessna XXX, visual runway 21

Tower: Cessna XXX, Tower, Clear to land runway 21


** The tower will most likely know you are on the visual approach. On a visual approach, aircraft seperation is reduced and collision avoidance responsibility is more the duty of the pilot rather than ATC.

Thanks a bunch !

Just a pet peeve of mine, but saying "on the visual" is almost as annoying as hearing Air Shuttle saying "checking in" or "with you". Saying "visual" is just fine, unless you're in uncongested airspace and feeling overly friendly

For visual approaches you are vectored and tower clears you for the visual, you either need to have the runway in sight, or the preceding aircraft insight, remain clear of clouds, also you are responsible for wake turbulence separation


The End =)

Why is it annoying? Its an IFR clearance, you let them know you're on the Visual so they know that you're not flying to ILS or LOC mins when you set off the ground radar (although you should avoid a drug-in approach). Specifically "On the Visual" specifies you're on the IFR Visual approach as opposed to "Visual" when you're flying an Instrument Procedure and have the field in sight. When you're flying a PAR or ASR (no-gyro) approach, "Visual" also tells the final controller to stop giving you instructions.

The only peeve I have with visual approaches is when I'm on one, and I have the field, but there's no mention of pattern aircraft until I'm about to hit one. I never get any advanced notice of that traffic from approach or tower. At least when it's uncontrolled fields, APP will mention if they see anyone.

Here's one for KiloAlpha "Over to ______, SEE YAAA!!!!!!!" Yeah, I do it, and yeah, so do some of the controllers. Gotta lighten up your day somehow.

As far as radio calls go, the real peeve there is when it's not as much as a radio call, but more of the "ummm, ABC APP....uhhhh, Cessna @#@$ is south east, uh...inbound with .......alpha" "Uhhh, actually we're to the west.......uhhhh, level 3000."