"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message link.net...
"Snowbird" wrote in message
om...

Had you reported a preceding aircraft in sight that had been cleared for a
visual approach?

Nope. No one else going in to that non-towered airport IFR.
Typical exchange would go something like
"XX Center, Grumman 123 requests slow descent into Podunk"
"Grumman 123, descend and maintain three thousand."
(3000 will lose radar coverage and radio contact will be
iffy)
(around 3500 ft)
"Grumman 123, radar contact lost, you are cleared for the
visual approach into Podunk, no observed traffic between
you and the airport, change to advisory approved, report
cancellation with Flight Service"

FAA Order 7110.65P Air Traffic Control
Chapter 7. Visual
2. The airport in sight at airports without a control tower.

That looks pretty unambiguous.

My guess is what I've run into is someone who knows if he
waits to clear me until I report the airport in sight, the
chances that he'll have lost both radar contact and comms
with me are pretty high, and has decided to simplify his
life.

Cheers,
Sydney





b. Resolve potential conflicts with all other aircraft, advise an
overtaking aircraft of the distance to the preceding aircraft and speed
difference, and ensure that weather conditions at the airport are VFR or
that the pilot has been informed that weather is not available for the
destination airport. Upon pilot request, advise the pilot of the frequency
to receive weather information where AWOS/ASOS is available.

PHRASEOLOGY-
(Ident) (instructions) CLEARED VISUAL APPROACH RUNWAY (number);

or

(ident) (instructions) CLEARED VISUAL APPROACH TO (airport name)

(and if appropriate)

WEATHER NOT AVAILABLE OR VERIFY THAT YOU HAVE THE (airport) WEATHER.

REFERENCE-
FAAO 7110.65, Visual Separation, Para 7-2-1.

c. Clear an aircraft for a visual approach when:

1. The aircraft is number one in the approach sequence, or

2. The aircraft is to follow a preceding aircraft and the pilot reports
the preceding aircraft in sight and is instructed to follow it, or

NOTE-
The pilot need not report the airport/runway in sight.

3. The pilot reports the airport or runway in sight but not the
preceding aircraft. Radar separation must be maintained until visual
separation is provided.

d. All aircraft following a heavy jet/B757 must be informed of the
airplane manufacturer and model.

EXAMPLE-
"Cessna Three Four Juliet, following a Boeing 757, 12 o'clock, six miles."

e. Inform the tower of the aircraft's position prior to communications
transfer at controlled airports. ARTS/STARS functions may be used provided a
facility directive or LOA specifies control and communication transfer
points.

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.

g. In those instances where airports are located in close proximity, also
provide the location of the airport that may cause the confusion.

EXAMPLE-
"Cessna Five Six November, Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is at
12 o'clock, 5 miles. Cleveland Hopkins Airport is at 1 o'clock 12 miles.
Report Cleveland Hopkins in sight."

REFERENCE-
FAAO 7110.65, Approaches to Multiple Runways, Para 7-4-4.