Visual Approach/Location of airport

Dealbreaker · Posted: 02-03-2010, 02:43 AM

If an aircraft is direct the airport when handed off and on the visual approach, do you have to give the location of the airport to the pilot when asked to report it in sight?

I can interpret this two ways:
1. As it states in 7-4-2 you must ensure that the location of the destination
airport is provided when the pilot is asked to report
the destination airport in sight.
2. You must only ensure that the location of the destination airport is provided when giving the aircraft vectors, for the visual.

7-4-2. VECTORS FOR VISUAL APPROACH
f. In addition to the requirements of para 7-4-2,
Vectors for Visual Approach, and subparas a, b, c, d,
and e, ensure that the location of the destination
airport is provided when the pilot is asked to report
the destination airport in sight.

This has been confusing me and I would really appreciate good input. Thanks.

atcpookie · Posted: 02-03-2010, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dealbreaker

If an aircraft is direct the airport when handed off and on the visual approach, do you have to give the location of the airport to the pilot when asked to report it in sight?

I can interpret this two ways:
1. As it states in 7-4-2 you must ensure that the location of the destination
airport is provided when the pilot is asked to report
the destination airport in sight.
2. You must only ensure that the location of the destination airport is provided when giving the aircraft vectors, for the visual.

7-4-2. VECTORS FOR VISUAL APPROACH
f. In addition to the requirements of para 7-4-2,
Vectors for Visual Approach, and subparas a, b, c, d,
and e, ensure that the location of the destination
airport is provided when the pilot is asked to report
the destination airport in sight.

This has been confusing me and I would really appreciate good input. Thanks.

You are almost riight with both. The rules state--

1. If you ask the pilot to report the airport in sight you must give the position of the airport.

2. If you don't ask the pilot to report the airport in sight you can still vector for a visual and just hope he reports the airport in sight on his own before he flies over it. (why on earth you would do that, I don't know)

Your second point is a little confusing..... The only time in which you care that the aircraft knows the location of the airport is when expecting the visual and he's not following another aircraft. Otherwise, they are being vectored for an IFR approach. (not too sure what you were trying to get at with "must only ensure")

Hope this helps.

MikeATC · Posted: 02-03-2010, 06:53 AM

No if's, and's, or but's, "The Pilot Must Report The Airport In Sight Before You Clear The Acft For A Visual Approach".

atcpookie · Posted: 02-03-2010, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeATC

No if's, and's, or but's, "The Pilot Must Report The Airport In Sight Before You Clear The Acft For A Visual Approach".

Of course, but we're talking about pointing the airport out requirements.

I would hope that all people on here know that the aircraft must have the airport or the other aircraft they are to follow to the airport in sight before saying "cleared visual approach"

Then again, based on some of the comments on this site, I migt be hoping in vein........

xxDYxx · Posted: 02-03-2010, 11:18 AM

All it's saying is, whether your vectoring the aircraft or not, that you need to provide the position of the airport when asking to report in sight.

Section f. mentions the Vectors for Visual (7-4-2) and a-e in 7-4-3 so that the rule in f. applies to all the above sections/rules. Not to be misunderstood and think that f. only applies when Vectoring for a visual.

I tell aircraft all the time "Airport twelve o'clock one five miles, report in sight." Usually more as a reminder or an 'I know this guy can see the airport by now, he just hasn't told me yet'...

MikeATC · Posted: 02-03-2010, 12:01 PM

XX is 100% correct, but use common sense too, point out the airport when there is a reasonable chance for the pilot to see it.

I have a cut off point when the visibility might be slightly hazy that if the pilot doesn't report the airport in sight by a specific point they get vectored out for the approach. You would be surprised how many pilots all of a sudden see the airport.

boondr · Posted: 02-03-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeATC

XX is 100% correct, but use common sense too, point out the airport when there is a reasonable chance for the pilot to see it.

I have a cut off point when the visibility might be slightly hazy that if the pilot doesn't report the airport in sight by a specific point they get vectored out for the approach. You would be surprised how many pilots all of a sudden see the airport.

Many of time I have used the line "Airport twelve o'clock 5 miles, report in sight"....."Looking"...."Roger turn right heading (100+ deg from current) vectors ILS runway XXX"...."Airport in sight"

Works every time.