4-8-11. PRACTICE APPROACHES
Except for military aircraft operating at military airfields, ensure that neither VFR nor IFR practice approaches disrupt the flow of other arriving and departing IFR or VFR aircraft. Authorize, withdraw authorization, or refuse to authorize practice approaches as traffic conditions require. Normally, approaches in progress should not be terminated.
NOTE-
The priority afforded other aircraft over practice instrument approaches is not intended to be so rigidly applied that it causes grossly inefficient application of services.
a. Separation.
1. IFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches shall be afforded standard separation in accordance with Chapter 3, Chapter 4,
Chapter 5, Chapter 6, and Chapter 7 minima until:
(a) The aircraft lands, and the flight is terminated, or
(b) The pilot cancels the flight plan.
2. Where procedures require application of IFR separation to VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches, standard IFR separation in accordance with Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, and Chapter 7 shall be provided. Controller responsibility for separation begins at the point where the approach clearance becomes effective. Except for heavy aircraft/B757, 500 feet vertical separation may be applied between VFR aircraft and between a VFR and an IFR aircraft.
REFERENCE-
FAAO 7210.3, Practice Instrument Approaches, Para 6-4-4.
FAAO 7210.3, Practice Instrument Approaches, Para 10-4-5.
3. Where separation services are not provided to VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches, the controller shall;
(a) Instruct the pilot to maintain VFR.
(b) Advise the pilot that separation services are not provided.
PHRASEOLOGY-
"(Aircraft identification) MAINTAIN VFR, PRACTICE APPROACH APPROVED, NO SEPARATION SERVICES PROVIDED."
(c) Provide traffic information or advise the pilot to contact the appropriate facility.
4. If an altitude is assigned, including at or above/below altitudes, the altitude specified must meet MVA, minimum safe altitude, or minimum IFR altitude criteria.
REFERENCE-
FAAO 7110.65, Altitude Assignments, Para 7-7-5.
5. All VFR aircraft shall be instructed to maintain VFR on initial contact or as soon as possible thereafter.
NOTE-
This advisory is intended to remind the pilot that even though ATC is providing IFR-type instructions, the pilot is responsible for compliance with the applicable parts of the CFR governing VFR flight.
b. Missed Approaches.
1. Unless alternate instructions have been issued, IFR aircraft are automatically authorized to execute the missed approach depicted for the instrument approach being flown.
REFERENCE-
FAAO 7110.65, Missed Approach, Para 4-8-9.
2. VFR aircraft are not automatically authorized to execute the missed approach procedure. This authorization must be specifically requested by the pilot and approved by the controller. When a missed approach has been approved, separation shall be provided throughout the missed approach.
REFERENCE-
FAAO 7110.65, Visual Separation, Para 7-2-1.