AIM 

3/21/24 

intended to be so rigidly applied that it causes grossly inefficient application of services. A minimum delay to 

itinerant traffic may be appropriate to allow an aircraft practicing an approach to complete that approach. 

NOTE

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A clearance to land means that appropriate separation on the landing runway will be ensured. A landing clearance does 

not relieve the pilot from compliance with any previously issued restriction. 

c. 

At airports without a tower, pilots wishing to make practice instrument approaches should notify the facility 

having control jurisdiction of the desired approach as indicated on the approach chart. All approach control 

facilities and ARTCCs are required to publish a Letter to Airmen depicting those airports where they provide 

standard separation to both VFR and IFR aircraft conducting practice instrument approaches. 

d. 

The controller will provide approved separation between both VFR and IFR aircraft when authorization 

is granted to make practice approaches to airports where an approach control facility is located and to certain 

other airports served by approach control or an ARTCC. Controller responsibility for separation of VFR aircraft 

begins at the point where the approach clearance becomes effective, or when the aircraft enters Class B or Class 

C airspace, or a TRSA, whichever comes first. 

e. 

VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches are not automatically authorized to execute the missed 

approach procedure. This authorization must be specifically requested by the pilot and approved by the 

controller. Where ATC procedures require application of IFR separation to VFR aircraft practicing instrument 

approaches, separation will be provided throughout the procedure including the missed approach. Where no 

separation services are provided during the practice approach, no separation services will be provided during the 

missed approach. 

f. 

Except in an emergency, aircraft cleared to practice instrument approaches must not deviate from the 

approved procedure until cleared to do so by the controller. 

g. 

At radar approach control locations when a full approach procedure (procedure turn, etc.,) cannot be 

approved, pilots should expect to be vectored to a final approach course for a practice instrument approach which 

is compatible with the general direction of traffic at that airport. 

h. 

When granting approval for a practice instrument approach, the controller will usually ask the pilot to report 

to the tower prior to or over the final approach fix inbound (nonprecision approaches) or over the outer marker 

or fix used in lieu of the outer marker inbound (precision approaches). 

i. 

When authorization is granted to conduct practice instrument approaches to an airport with a tower, but 

where approved standard separation is not provided to aircraft conducting practice instrument approaches, the 

tower will approve the practice approach, instruct the aircraft to maintain VFR and issue traffic information, as 

required. 

j. 

When an aircraft notifies a FSS providing Local Airport Advisory to the airport concerned of the intent to 

conduct a practice instrument approach and whether or not separation is to be provided, the pilot will be instructed 

to contact the appropriate facility on a specified frequency prior to initiating the approach. At airports where 

separation is not provided, the FSS will acknowledge the message and issue known traffic information but will 

neither approve or disapprove the approach. 

k. 

Pilots conducting practice instrument approaches should be particularly alert for other aircraft operating 

in the local traffic pattern or in proximity to the airport. 

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23.  Option Approach 

The “Cleared for the Option” procedure will permit an instructor, flight examiner or pilot the option to make a 

touch

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and

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go, low approach, missed approach, stop

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and

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go, or full stop landing. This procedure can be very 

beneficial in a training situation in that neither the student pilot nor examinee would know what maneuver would 

be accomplished. The pilot should make a request for this procedure passing the final approach fix inbound on 

an instrument approach or entering downwind for a VFR traffic pattern. After ATC approval of the option, the 

pilot should inform ATC as soon as possible of any delay on the runway during their stop-and-go or full stop 

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Airport Operations