Contact Approach: When The Weather Is Too Bad For A Visual

[@Parker-di7ef]

Many people ask me, “Oh you’re a pilot? That must be really tough to learn.” I smile and reply, “Yeah”, knowing very well that 10% of my aviation knowledge has come from books and 90% has come from videos like these. Thank you!

[@samuelwarner9411]

Notes • Visual Approach: ≥1000'cig, ≥3SM reported vis, airport or preceding aircraft in sight. • Contact Approach: COC, 1SM flt vis, reasonably expect to remain in those conditions (doesn't require airport in sight), requires there be a published IAP, there's no MAProcedure, ATC wont initiate a contact approach (must be requested).

[@keithrickson8522]

Just requested a contact approach on Vatsim. The guy had absolutely no idea what I was talking about and just ended up clearing me for the visual.

[@aviationenthusiast4353]

I still do not understand what a contact approach is from watching this video.

[@tylerfielding5311]

Literally me too haha

[@retronexusnet]

The videos of you are awesome!!!! Please keep them coming!

[@opus4rv]

You are amazing in the way you teach. Keep up the excellent work!

[@100alexsouth]

I just did my first contact approach the other day! Approach loved it since they never get to do it. Tower, not so much haha. Weather was 2SM and 1000 broken. I was unable to do the RNAV approach that was in use and I remembered at the last minute before I went to my alternate that I could do a contact approach. It was a lot of fun!

[@johnnytyler]

Super clear explanation. This detailed lesson was not included in my ground school lessons of Approaches. THANK YOU!!

[@hybridjohn1]

The depth of knowledge with all of these videos is amazing.

[@prathameshacharya9739]

Your videos are always helpful! My CPL training starts in 2 months so really excited to experience all this. Please upload more videos though. Keep up the good work guys :) Cheers!

[@joshr783]

Great video. I really like what you guys are doing with the SR22 stuff. Hope there are more to come :)

[@jackchung4725]

A VERY GOOD VIDEO. clear and helpful, THANKS for manking this.

[@dsrduff]

Great videos, thanks for posting.

[@williebrucee]

Easy to understand and remember

[@isaackang7]

Thanks this helped me a lot!

[@tallishyeti2756]

So if the airport has IAPs but my plane is not equipped to fly them (ex: an ILS that requires DME but no DME or GPS installed) can you ask for a contact approach and they just vector and step you down until you have the runway. What’s the minimum altitude they can give you? Do you have to be equipped to shoot the published IAP? So many questions the IFH and the AIM don’t answer.

[@bruhhhhh718]

i think you only need 500 ft above minimum vectoring altitude for visual approach

[@WarlordWagie]

Are you guys based out of KAPA?

[@AleksUdris]

Most of our flying is out of BJC now (our offices are in Boulder), but we often fly out of KAPA, too.

[@capncrunch9313]

Thank you

[@VictoryAviation]

Contact approach = pointless. Just shoot the approach. You have the runway environment in sight? Good for you. You’re cleared for visual.

[@manualflight]

Even with the arrow pointing where the airport was, I still can't see it in the video. :s Is it different getting the visual in real life or do I need better eye sight?

[@Galastin]

SLC!!

[@inbrekers11]

Just a question, you intercepted the localizer, so what use was it to continue as a visual approach? Since you're already established on final... Just since we have this all the time but ATC clears us for the ILS non the less. Or is that an EASA thing?

[@AleksUdris]

Hauke - We could have asked for the ILS clearance, but by requesting the visual, we reduce ATC's separation requirements. We had the airport in sight before the outer marker, so picking up the visual could have reduced delays for following traffic.

[@inbrekers11]

Alright I see! Thanks for the clarification!

[@stingerjc]

No....you're still IFR even on a visual approach. ATC has the same separation requirements for you on an ILS as they would on a visual approach. If you want to reduce separation, you cancel IFR and become VFR.

[@luardelchico5769]

@@AleksUdris Great! Visuals make sense now! :)

[@cokeforever]

Why not just request vectors?! You do not _have_to_ fly published star, just ask for vectors to loc

[@NicholasMarkovich]

Why are your eyes like that?

[@thegarre]

No contact approach 🫠