Definition
The minimum forward visibility required from the cockpit, measured in statute miles, for a pilot to be authorized to receive and conduct a contact approach. The pilot must be able to see at least one statute mile ahead along the intended flight path, and must remain clear of clouds, while proceeding visually to the destination airport.
Plain English
You must be able to see at least one mile ahead from the cockpit, and stay out of the clouds, before you're allowed to fly a contact approach to the airport.
Context Anchor
Seen in contact approach rules, where the pilot is using outside visual reference instead of following the full published instrument approach path.
Derivation
Statute mile' refers to the standard land mile of 5,280 feet, distinguishing it from the nautical mile (about 6,076 feet) used for most aviation distances. Visibility minimums in the U.S. are reported in statute miles because they originated alongside surface weather observations, which have always used statute miles.
Why Pilots Care
Allows a pilot on an IFR flight plan to continue visually to the airport when weather is above this threshold but below full VFR.
Intuition Check
Do not assume this means the airport’s reported visibility. It means what the pilot can actually see from the aircraft in flight. Also, statute mile means a regular 5,280-foot land mile, not a nautical mile.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot reported one statute mile flight visibility and clear of clouds, then requested a contact approach into the destination airport.
Example Sentence 2
With one statute mile flight visibility and the airport in sight, the pilot could accept the contact approach instead of flying the full ILS.