The procedure is to obtain a clearance to descend to the minimum vectoring altitude. If before reaching that altitude you get 500 below the lowest cloud deck, you can cancel IFR and land VFR. If you get the airport in sight while still operating under IFR, you report that and request a visual approach, then cancel on the ground. Keep in mind at all times that there is no "missed approach" procedure for a visual approach, so once you cancel IFR or accept a visual approach clearance, you are obligated to remain clear of clouds/remain VFR (as applicable) until/unless you obtain a new IFR clearance from ATC.
No, you are not.
You can ask for it, but it should not be forthcoming unless the controller is willing to violate an FAA Order. A published approach is a requirement for ATC to approve a contact approach.
Contact approaches are available only at airports that have IAPs, OTOH airports without IAPs typically are class "G" uncontrolled airspace below 1200' agl where VFR minimums are 1 mile/clear of cloud, same as minimums required for a contact approach.
Correction if I might? That's "minimum instrument altitude", not nessesarily the same thing as minimum vectoring altitude
ATC will issue you his minimum instrument altitude for that area (that's the lowest altitude he can assign) or ........he might issue (you might have to request) a cruise clearance allowing you to descend to the lowest altitude described in FAR 91.177(a)(2)(i)or(ii). Upon reaching that altitude if you are in VFR conditions you typically cancel and proceed to your destination OTOH if you're still in the cloud you advise ATC and proceed to your alternate.
Correction if I might? That's "minimum instrument altitude", not nessesarily the same thing as minimum vectoring altitude
Yeah, if you think it thru' I suspect the contact approach is designed to keep you on your IFR clearance thus providing separation from other IFR aircraft while you're operating 1 mile/clear of cloud in controlled airspace?
I wouldn't expect the FAA Chief Counsel to agree with that interpretation, and I know Flight Standards won't buy it on an IR practical test.
So, why would you need to be equipped to fly the published IAP in order to accept a contact approach?
Suggest you read FAR 91.177
You can do it the old way (find the closest telephone and try to negotiate a long enuf' void time to get back to the airplane and take off before the void time expires) or if that's not possible start up and call in the blind on the ATC freq for somebody overhead to relay for you.
I'd guess most of the times a contact approach is requested is before an instrument approach is begun and to save time by bypassing the instrument approach.
Because the FAA doesn't want people using contact approaches as a means of legalized scud-running when they could not otherwise get into that airport. That's why they put the requirement for a published approach in the regulation in the first place. I suspect that if this ever becomes a legal issue, and the court doesn't buy their position, they'll do like they did with the "possession/personal possession" question on pilot papers and revise the reg.
What you propose is not legal.
Your only legal option is to obtain a clearance down to the minimum IFR altitude and then either see the airport visually and get a visual approach or break into 91.155-legal VFR conditions and cancel IFR.
Use a landline and get a long void time. Same for landing there -- if you can't cancel in the air, you'd have to get to a landline phone and call in your cancellation.
You don't need to be 500 below to accept a visual approach clearance, but you do need to be 500 below to cancel IFR while still in controlled airspace. The 1-mile/clear-of-clouds VFR option exists only in Class G airspace, and ATC cannot clear you down that low. As for Special VFR, that is only available when there is controlled airspace down to the surface, and if there's no instrument approach and no means of communication with ATC, you won't have that.
No. See my explanation a couple of posts up from here. And I've requested and been cleared for contact approaches before starting a SIAP.
However, once cleared for the visual approach, you must remain clear of clouds. See AIM 5-4-23 for details. What you are relieved from is the 91.155 VFR cloud clearance requirements as long as you don't cancel IFR.
Other than Levy's opinion, where does it say THAT?
