VFR practice approach phraseology

RadarContact Scope Dope High Desert TRACON

Ok in an effort to clarify a dispute that arose over phraseology today in my facility I'll ask this question. Simply put how do you treat someone requesting a VFR practice approach (outside of Class B/C)? Here are the two options that were debated... this particular example assumes the approach is to a towered airport.

#1. Vector the VFR a/c until set up on an intercept angle that abides by 5-9-1. VECTORS TO FINAL APPROACH COURSE, at which time you say "Maintain VFR, practice approach approved."

#2. Tell the a/c "Maintain VFR" and then pretty much treat them as though they were IFR with respect to phraseology, and when appropriate deliver a full approach clearance IAW 5-9-4. ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS. I.e. "Position, Turn, Altitude, Clearance for the approach"

My question also continues, that if you use #2, what altitude do you assign? Just an "at or above" the MVA in that area? I was taught #1, and it just seems wrong to say "cleared ILS rwy XX approach" to a VFR a/c. I can see some points being true in the other method that was being argued however.

I've pasted the practice approach section below for those who want to read over it again and are lazy like me THANKS FOR ANY INPUT!

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 JO 7210.3, Para 6-4-4, Practice Instrument Approaches.
FAAO JO 7210.3, Para 10-4-5, Practice Instrument Approaches.

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 JO 7110.65, Para 7-7-5, Altitude Assignments.

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 JO 7110.65, Para 4-8-9, Missed Approach.

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 JO 7110.65, Para 7-2-1, Visual Separation.

Roddy_Piper Resident Knucklehead Vegas baby

i've used #1 in this instance. vector them to the final and when ur about to deliver the clearance then spit out the practice approach phraseology.

if u use #2 then u authorize the VFR aircraft the missed approach, which u may or may not want. once u say "cleared xxx approach" i take that to mean that they are cleared to execute everything on the approach plate (including missed as published). for this reason, i always used #1. if u have an LOA/etc to provide wake turbulence separation for VFR practice approaches then u need to be sure to comply with that and not just assume that "no separation services provided" when in fact there is.

kinda rambled and never really answered the question. #1 for me.

Hold_West Rookie

If vectoring to final, I always used #1, simply replacing the "A" in PTAC with "Maintain VFR".

atcbrownie Trusted Member Warrenton Va

if separation services are provided to the airport use number 2 if not use number 1 and say "practice approach approved no separation services provided".

VFR aircraft conducting practice unstrument approaches are never automatically authorized to conduct the missed approach procedure regardless of how they are cleared for the approach.

You do not need to assign an altitude to a vfr aircraft conducting a practice instrument approach, but if you do it must meet the mva. I typically just say "maintain vfr" to replace the altitude portion of the PTAC.

from the 7210.3

10-4-5. PRACTICE INSTRUMENT
APPROACHES
a. VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches
at the approach control's primary airport shall beprovided IFR separation in accordance with FAAO
JO7110.65, Air Traffic Control, Chapter 4, Section
8, Approach Clearance Procedures.
NOTEThe
primary airport is the airport from which approach
control service is provided, except for remoted facilities
where the facility air traffic manager will designate the
primary report.
b. IFR separation to VFR aircraft in accordance
with FAAO JO 7110.65, Chapter 4, Section 8,
Approach Clearance Procedures, shall be provided to
all secondary airports under the approach control's
jurisdiction to the extent possible within existing
resources. Where separation service is provided to an
airport with an AFSS/FSS that provides LAA, or a
nonapproach control tower, provisions for handling
such aircraft, including aircraft being provided DF
service, shall be included in a LOA.
c. Where standard separation is not provided to
VFR aircraft conducting practice approaches,
instruct the aircraft to maintain VFR and provide
traffic information.
d. At airports where the tower does not provide
approach control service, handle practice instrument
approaches in accordance with a LOA between the
tower and the facility providing approach control
service.
e. Facilities shall issue a letter to airmen advising
the users of those airports where standard separation
is provided for VFR aircraft conducting practice
instrument approaches. The letter should specify
which facility will handle the aircraft practicing
instrument approaches and include the appropriate
frequencies.
REFERENCEPara
4-5-2, Letters to Airmen.

from .65

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, withdrawauthorization, or refuse to authorize practice
approaches as traffic conditions require. Normally,
approaches in progress should not be terminated.
NOTEThe
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.
REFERENCEFAAO
JO 7210.3, Para 6-4-4, Practice Instrument Approaches.
FAAO JO 7210.3, Para 10-4-5, Practice Instrument Approaches.
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.?
[/B](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.

AW

xxDYxx Rookie Florida (KPAM)

I Agree with #1 also, I always make sure to throw out the "no separation" part so that there is no confusion.

In my opinion method #2 is contradicting itself. Maintain VFR followed shortly by a clearance... that's no good. I look at an approach clearance for VFR as an IFR clearance to the approach end. Giving a clearance means your ensuring separation from that point on, once he finishes his approach he can execute the missed approach (if he asked for it and was cleared), or he can maintain VFR to the North/West/etc...

mad1dizzle Rookie

Both are correct... It all depends in what airspace the airport is in. What makes it difficult is because you said outsided of class B/C airspace but towered.

If you provide the approach service to that airport then I would go with #2. Sep responsibility starts when a/c is cleared and established on a portion of the approach. 500ft vertical sep unless heavy/757 is involved. Separation ends when a/c goes missed. VFR are not automatically approved for published missed. ref .65 4-8-9, 4-8-11, 4-8-12.

Just because you cleared the a/c for the approach does not mean you gave a/c an IFR flight plan clearance. They are still VFR flight plan you are just taking responsibility of sep.

xxDYxx Rookie Florida (KPAM)

Also, for any fellow Air Force controllers, our VFR Practice approach section of 13-203:

4.12. Practice Approaches/Departures. VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches at the approach
control's primary airport shall be provided IFR separation. The primary airport is the airport from which
approach control service is provided. (See FAAO 7110.65, Chapter 4, Section 8, Approach Clearance Pro-
cedures for details).

4.12.1. VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches at the approach control's primary airport shall
be provided IFR separation. The primary airport is the airport from which approach control service is
provided. (See FAAO 7110.65, Chapter 4, Section 8, and Approach Clearance Procedures for details).

Just something else to chew on...