Definition
An approach procedure that may be used by a pilot operating on an IFR flight plan, in lieu of conducting a published instrument approach, when the pilot is clear of clouds, has at least one statute mile flight visibility, can reasonably expect to continue to the destination airport in those conditions, and specifically requests it from ATC. The destination airport must have a published instrument approach procedure, and ATC must approve the request.
Plain English
When you're flying IFR but the weather near the airport is good enough that you can see where you're going, you can ask ATC for permission to fly visually to the airport instead of flying the full instrument approach. ATC has to approve it, and you have to be the one who asks.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach planning and arrival discussions, especially when weather is low but the pilot can still see enough outside to continue visually.
Derivation
Contact' here means visual contact with the ground or surface features. The pilot is staying in touch with the surface visually rather than relying solely on instruments. This is a different sense of 'contact' than radio contact or physical contact.
Why Pilots Care
Allows a shorter, more efficient route to the runway under IFR when visual references are available, saving time and fuel while still under ATC control.
Intuition Check
Contact approaches do not mean simply “contacting” air traffic control on the radio. They are IFR approaches where the pilot uses outside visual references, with ATC authorization, instead of flying the full published instrument procedure.
Example Sentence 1
Inbound to the field with broken layers above and good visibility below, the pilot requested a contact approach to save the time of flying the full ILS procedure.
Example Sentence 2
The controller offered a contact approach to shorten the flight once the pilot confirmed visual contact with the terrain.