On Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:45:58 -0000, wrote:

Ron, in general, though (second hand experience speaking) if you're
going to a controlled airport, especially if it's not one you've used
much, aren't you better off flying an instrument approach, even if
it's circle to land? There's never a question of 'where is the
airport?" or of the tower not knowing where you are, known traffic
seperation, all that stuff, even in VMC? Maybe I've been exposed to
one style of general aviation for too long, but I'd be shocked after
engine start I didn't hear my personal PIC say "Clearance, Mooney N
xyz, instruments to . . .

What do you mean by an "instrument approach"? "familiar"?

Here's what I do.

I generally fly IFR to busy airports (e.g. KBOS, KFRG, KHPN) especially if
they are unfamiliar or at the end of long trips. And I do so because of
the ease of communication handoffs, and not having to worry about
controlled airspace issues.

I would not rely on the control tower to keep me separated from VFR
traffic, however. You'll probably be OK at a place like KBOS, or other
major airports in a CBA. And the tower will warn you if they see a
conflict, but separating you from VFR traffic is not a primary
responsibility.

Much of the time, when I operate under IFR to a controlled field, the
approach clearance is for a Visual Approach, locating the airport visually
is still required.

The two controlled airports to which I operate most frequently are KBGR and
KASH. I have no qualms about going VFR into either.

KFRG, because of the airspace/communications issues, I prefer IFR.

KBOS, because of familiarity, I will frequently go VFR (unless on an Angel
Flight mission).
--ron