During a contact approach, what must the pilot ensure regarding visibility?

In a contact approach, the pilot is allowed to deviate from instrument flight rules (IFR) to navigate visually, provided certain criteria are met. One key requirement is that visibility must be at least 1 statute mile, both in the air (flight visibility) and on the ground (ground visibility).

This means the pilot needs to maintain visual contact with the ground and have enough visibility to safely navigate and land. The requirement of 1 statute mile helps ensure that pilots have adequate sightlines to avoid obstacles and perform the approach safely. This contrasts with other minimum visibility requirements that may be applicable under different conditions or approaches, which are usually higher than 1 statute mile.

The statement emphasizes the need for pilots to evaluate visibility conditions before proceeding with a contact approach, as reduced visibility can increase the risks associated with flying visually in areas where instrument navigation is typically used.