bigrex81 Rookie Oak Harbor, WA

So there has been a battle for several weeks now between Tower and Radar at my facility concerning a Visual Approach. Heres the question, If a Visual Approach goes missed approach, is that aircraft IFR or VFR? 7110.65 7-4-1 states that there is "No missed approach segment. An aircraft unable to complete a visual approach shall be handled as any GO-AROUND.." Only VFR aircraft get go arounds, IFR aircraft get missed approach procedures, right? Now according to the AIM 5-4-22 section G, "Authorization to conduct a visual approach is an IFR authorization and does not alter IFR flight plan cancellation responsibility." Then the AIM references Canceling IFR Flight Plan 5-1-14, but that section says nothing about a visual approach. Just looking for others opinions.

ATCinWI Senior Member Illinois

Unless he lands or says "cancel IFR", he is still IFR. VFR aircraft aren't the only aircraft that get go-arounds, you can tell any aircraft to go around. A missed approach is part of a published instrument approach procedure, a go-around is an instruction to abort a landing. IFRs that go around can fly a normal traffic pattern as long as the proper separation is applied with other aircraft(read: visual from the tower in many instances), or they can be sent back to approach for re-sequencing.

See this very recent thread: Visual Approach..Vfr on go-around?

joecoolinsc Rookie Spartanburg, SC

Wisconsin is right. He is IFR until he lands or cancels, period.

polo708 Epic Member tower

this was just brought up like a week ago, haha. He is IFR, just not on a published missed approach procedure. Any radar controller that doesnt know that is an idiot.

bigrex81 Rookie Oak Harbor, WA

OK. Reference 7110.65 Pilot Controller glossary for Go Around - Instructions for a pilot to abandon his/her approach to landing. Additional instructions may follow. Unless otherwise advised by ATC, a VFR aircraft or an aircraft conducting a VISUAL APPROACH should overfly the runway while climbing to traffic pattern altitude and enter the traffic pattern via the crosswind leg. A pilot on an IFR flight plan making an instrument approach should execute the published missed approach procedures or proceed as instructed by ATC. How can an aircraft turn Tower downwind while they are still IFR? Does the tower have to get an IFR cancellation before the aircraft turns?

ATCinWI Senior Member Illinois

bigrex, re-read what you just posted: I'll highlight the answer

Instructions for a pilot to abandon his/her approach to landing. Additional instructions may follow. Unless otherwise advised by ATC, a VFR aircraft or an aircraft conducting a VISUAL APPROACH should overfly the runway while climbing to traffic pattern altitude and enter the traffic pattern via the crosswind leg. A pilot on an IFR flight plan making an instrument approach should execute the published missed approach procedures or proceed as instructed by ATC.

Just to clarify, because it seems like this is not common knowledge . . . IFR aircraft can proceed visually in the traffic pattern, maintain visual separation from other aircraft, and fly visual approaches. Being IFR doesn't mean they always have to fly solely by reference to instruments all the time. It guarantees them separation from other aircraft and obstructions, either from ATC, charted procedures, or their own ability to fly using visual references (looking out the window).

joecoolinsc Rookie Spartanburg, SC

Rex,

The important words in your quote are "Unless otherwise advised by ATC"

If you are in a VFR tower you should immediately coordinate with the IFR facility. Or follow procedures in your LOA if there are any. Either way, the aircraft is IFR and required to be separated as such. This can be via visual separation by the VFR tower and approved by the controlling facility.

Joe

Max Power Senior Member

that doesnt answer his question because you left out ,a VFR aircraft

his question was how a IFR aircraft enters the pattern.

joecoolinsc Rookie Spartanburg, SC

A Visual Approach is an IFR procedure. The question was answered.

ATCinWI Senior Member Illinois

Thanks Joe . . . Max, VFR aircraft don't fly visual approaches, that's why it says "a VFR aircraft OR an aircraft on a visual approach" (emphasis added by me). And, specifically, an IFR aircraft, on a visual approach, would overfly the runway on a go around and enter the traffic pattern via the crosswind leg, just like anyone else would fly the traffic pattern (unless otherwise instructed by ATC).