Cleared the visual means you've been cleared for the full visual approach, so
you are basically the same as VFR traffic as far as clearance. At a towered
field, you have to follow any instructions given by the tower. In this case,
you are cleared for descent to TPA, fly the pattern and tower told you to enter
the left downwind for 9.

Stuart King wrote:

The situation....

Your on an IFR plan, in VMC. You see the airport and make your call: N123
has the field.

ATC : N123 cleard for the visual approach to rwy 9, contact tower 123.4

You : cleared for the vis to 9, over tower...thanks.

You : acb tower N123 with you on the visual to 9.

Tower : N123 roger, enter a left downwind for 9.

Does this mean you stay on downwind, or are you just enetering the pattern
and can make base/final anytime.

Clearance to land has not yet been given.

SK

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