sellener

Flying from uncontrolled to uncontrolled airport, a distance of about 15 miles.......

Ovc 1500 vis 2 in light snow.

Could you take off ifr and ask (and expect to receive) a contact approach? , in the hopes of flying just below clouds (and icing) to destination also 1500oc vis 2 light snow?

Second question is about altitude.......

Say for example atc clears u for contact approach at or below 3000.....

My interpretation is u can climb descend as needed to fulfill contact approach requirements. How low can u go? Assuming I am familiar with area and comfortable descending to say 1700, does atc require radar contact?

Twin Wasp

There's no requirement for radar contact to issue a contact approach.

What'll screw up your plan is if someone else is out there. Given that the two airports are 15 miles apart, if another plane called for departure at your destination airport, you could be stuck sitting at the end of the runway for 10-15 minutes before you're released.

Ewfflyer

Better yet, what about most airports have class G from surf-700agl, 1200ft enroute, so in reality in this situation I would look at vfr

I know that totally avoided the question, but looking at it as another legal option to use.

Singlecoil

What you want to do in this situation is request a special VFR.

yawdamp

ATC cannot clear you for a Contact Approach. It must be requested by the pilot.

AF2Navy

Your situation may be similar to mine........it depends on what the MVA(minimum vectoring altitude) is for that sector............you can call the facility and ask them. The times I have departed IFR from an uncontrolled field, I have had to get all the way to the min vectoring altitude before being given further clearance(s).....it has to do with when they gain you on their scope("radar contact")

.......what I learned after calling and talking to the TRACON supervisor, from my experience, they have always been very friendly and willing to educate me on their side of the aviation world............give it a shot!

sellener

Thanks guys......a call to atc is always a good idea. I think minimum vectoring altitudes can change frequently(daily/hourly) as scope capability changes. a call just prior to flight would help.

Vfr is possibility depending on your definition of congested/uncontested and risk of complaints from folks on ground.

I'll give atc a call and find something out......just seems there should be a legal/safe way to stay just out of clouds with ground contact and less than vfr visibility on some type of ifr clearance......

Thought the contact approach would be closest to an answer, but curious how they'd handle it if u asked for the clearance via tx before takeoff.

I'll keep us posted

galaxy flyer

First, MVAs don't change hourly, unless the terrain changes hourly. ATC can only clear you in controlled airspace above the terrain, how you get there from an uncontrolled airport is your problem. A contact puts terrain clearance on the pilot's shoulders.

Second, scud running is a proven killer, so VFR might not be so good. Loads of instrument-rated pilots have come to grief trying to scud run, too. If you do get an IFR clearance, what's the concern for "staying out of the clouds"?

Third, your comment "at or below 3000'" sounds like you are confusing the contact approach with the cruise clearance. A contact approach doesn't require radar, but does require an available IAP at the destination.

Take from who's been to too many funerals-wait, get a clearance, fly the clearance and use the IAP, as published. Live long and prosper, by doing so.

GF

EasternATC

Prosper? By flying? Surely, you jest!

Yoda2

Responding to several posts... I also agree with Galaxy Flyer. Additionally, ATC can clear you for a contact approach; it just needs to be requested by the pilot. Also, I have known many dead pilots who "knew the area..."