Contact Approach
What is contact approach?
A contact approach is one that a pilot on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan may request—and Air Traffic Control (ATC) may authorize—to deviate from the published instrument approach procedure and proceed to the destination airport by visual reference to the surface. To use it, you must be clear of clouds, have at least one mile flight visibility, and a reasonable expectation of continuing to the airport in those conditions. Think of it as: the pilot must ask for it (ATC never offers it), unlike a visual approach.
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