IFR contact approach question

[Flechas]

I had an instructor explain it best to me one time: "Legalized Scud Running"

For that reason, never EVER take a Contact Approach if the weather is poor (why you'd take one to begin with) and you're not familiar with the surroundings or area.

Couldn´t agree any more. I would only take a contact approach if I´m very familiar with the area.

The way geronimo did it sounds safe too, go down to MSA AND follow the procedure.

 

[gkrangers]

Basically you want to be intimately familiar with the area...being able to navigate to the runway by streets,buildings, the McDonalds on the corner...etc...

In other words, I wouldn't do it.

 

[Flibmeister]

any idea on how we can find this magazine?

http://www.ifr-magazine.com/

 

[Flibmeister]

I would only take a contact approach if I´m very familiar with the area.

A good attitude, and the reason that (as has been mentioned, but perhaps not forcefully enough), no controller will offer or assign you a contact approach-- it has to be your idea. Same thing for Special VFR clearances-- the feds recognize that both procedures usually take local knowledge to accomplish safely, so they're only available upon pilot request.

 

[Gutenberg]

Sorry, I should really link to something if I mention it. Thanks Flibmeister. Great reading for the porcelain throne.

 

[Headwind]

Like I said before if you have visual contact with the runway and ask for a visual, but the controller can't give you a visual because the weather is reported below mim's - you ask for a contact approach. Thats why we have the contact approach. If you see the runway and want a visual you can now get it without the full procedure.

HEADWIND

 

[Flibmeister]

Great reading for the porcelain throne.

Thanks... I think.


Denny (Contributing Editor, IFR)

 

[Singlecoil]

Like I said before if you have visual contact with the runway and ask for a visual, but the controller can't give you a visual because the weather is reported below mim's - you ask for a contact approach. Thats why we have the contact approach. If you see the runway and want a visual you can now get it without the full procedure.

HEADWIND

All true, but you don't have to have the runway or the airport in sight to do a contact approach.

 

[minitour]

All true, but you don't have to have the runway or the airport in sight to do a contact approach.

Yep...couldn't figure out why, but I was out with a student a while back and we were being vectored for the ILS (vis went to 2 for a while). I said "I have the airport in sight if it helps" and I couldn't figure out why the controller came back on with: "Oh...so you have ground contact".

My understanding is that's all you need...

1sm, stay out of the clouds, navigate to the airport under those conditions..

...me being the dumb@ss didn't realize what he was saying and was like "yep...so 230 on the heading and 3000" haha...he had to be thinking I was a doof...oh well.

-mini

 

[Singlecoil]

Controllers can be good at giving hints. Like, "Well the airspace here is IFR at the moment, isn't that SPECIAL?"

 

[Geronimo4497]

The best one I ever heard was "We are running a "special" on IFR clearances" to a non instrument rated pilot trying to land at a class D airport. Unfortunatley, the pilot didnt get the hint. E for effort, though.