What is the contact approach?

The contact approach is a procedure that pilots can request when they are operating under instrument flight rules (IFR). It allows them to proceed visually to the airport once they have the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight, effectively serving as an alternative to a standard instrument approach. This type of maneuver is particularly useful in conditions where visibility is adequate, but an IFR approach procedure may not be necessary or beneficial.

When a pilot makes this request, they take responsibility for the flight's safety as they transition from the IFR environment to visual navigation. Contact approaches are not part of the standard procedures published for an airport, so they require the pilot’s judgment and active communication with air traffic control. This allows for more flexibility for pilots who are familiar with the area and the visual landmarks, enabling a smoother and sometimes quicker descent into an airport.

In contrast, a standard instrument approach involves predefined routes and procedures that must be followed under IFR, and it does not provide the same flexibility that a contact approach does. The other choices, while they describe various aspects of flight procedures, do not accurately capture the essence and purpose of the contact approach in the context of IFR operations.