BlackPaw

There is some debate on a particular aspect of a contact approach among some of my buddies.

They say that you can request and perform a contact approach if you can see an aircraft ahead of you that is either also on a contact approach or on an ILS and you do not have to meet the visibility requirements specified in the AIM.

I just can't see where following an aircraft exempts you from the visibility required.

AIM 5-4-25 and 5-5-3 states the following:

"By requesting the contact approach, indicates that the flight is operating clear of clouds, has at least one mile flight visibility, and reasonably expects to continue to the destination airport in those conditions."

Any input?

galaxy flyer

The controller has to provide separation for each aircraft on any approach, so it'd be hard to clear one for an ILS and another for a contact. Contacts basically give the aircraft flying it the entire local airspace, as there is no defined course guidance. You'll only see them issued at small airports with little traffic.


GF

EasternATC

They are misleading you with incorrect information. We are trained to be leery of contact approaches; having two aircraft on contact approaches would cause tsuris.

rickair7777

I think you can be given a contract approach to follow another aircraft. The traffic to follow would probably need to be on a visual or contact as well.

JohnBurke

Blackpaw,

Your friends are confused between a visual approach and a contact approach.

ATC may assign a visual approach, and the pilot must have either the airport in sight, or the preceding aircraft.

A pilot must request a contact approach, and it is predicated on the ability to remain clear of clouds with at least one mile visibility. There is no provision in a contact approach for following another aircraft, insofar as a criteria for the clearance.

Separation from IFR and VFR traffic is provided during a contact appreoach, until the pilot switches to the advisory frequency. In the case of a visual approach, however, if the pilot accepts the clearance based on the preceding aircraft in sight, the pilot takes responsibility for separation.

A contact approach is an approach procedure. A visual approach is not an instrument approach procedure.

aviatorhi

Contact Approach is to an IFR flight as Special VFR is to a VFR flight.

That's the easy way to remember it.

Contact App

Can be used in lieu of an IAP

Can be reqested by the Pilot but not instructed like a Visual Approach from ATC

1 S MILE and clear of clouds required

Contact App

You could be thinking about making a sidestep maneuver or whether to go for a Contact approach

BlackPaw

Thank you everyone, it definitely didn't seem right, I think they are mistaking it for a visual approach as well.

rickair7777

Thinking about it, I have been cleared for a contact approach (done a gazillion of them at a certain airport) and also instructed to follow/reference another aircraft. Sounds like the contact approach clearance wasn't legally based on following the other aircraft, that was just a separation advisory sort of thing.