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VISUAL APPROACH

Pilot/Controller Glossary with JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

An approach conducted on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot to proceed visually and clear of clouds to the airport. The pilot must, at all times, have either the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight. This approach must be authorized and under the control of the appropriate air traffic control facility. Reported weather at the airport must be: ceiling at or above 1,000 feet, and visibility of 3 miles or greater.

See VISUAL APPROACH ICAO.

ICAO definition

An approach by an IFR flight when either part or all of an instrument approach procedure is not completed and the approach is executed in visual reference to terrain.

In the 7110.65

Used in 21 paragraphs of JO 7110.65BB.

  1. 2-1-19Wake Turbulence
  2. 2-1-20Wake Turbulence Cautionary Advisories
  3. 2-3-10Control Symbology
  4. 2-9-3Content
  5. 3-10-2Forwarding Approach Information by Nonapproach Control Facilities
  6. 4-7-3Single Frequency Approaches (SFA)
  7. 4-7-4Radio Frequency and Radar Beacon Changes for Military Aircraft
  8. 4-7-11Arrival Information by Approach Control Facilities
  9. 4-8-1Approach Clearance
  10. 5-6-3Vectors Below Minimum Altitude
  11. 5-8-2Initial Heading
  12. 5-9-1Vectors to Final Approach Course
  13. 5-10-15Military Single Frequency Approaches
  14. 7-4-1Visual Approach
  15. 7-4-2Vectors for Visual Approach
  16. 7-4-3Clearance for Visual Approach
  17. 7-4-4Approaches to Multiple Runways
  18. 7-7-3Separation
  19. 7-8-3Separation
  20. 7-9-4Separation
  21. 13-1-8Recording of Control Data