What is necessary to ensure safety when conducting approaches?

Maintaining communication and awareness of ATC (Air Traffic Control) instructions is essential for ensuring safety during approaches because it provides pilots with real-time information about surrounding air traffic, any potential hazards, and the overall airspace situation. ATC conveys vital instructions that may include changes to approach routing, altitude adjustments, or go-around commands, which are crucial for safely navigating crowded or complex airspace.

Effective communication with ATC helps pilots make informed decisions and stay coordinated with other aircraft in the vicinity, ultimately enhancing overall safety during approaches. Additionally, being aware of ATC instructions allows for proactive responses to dynamic conditions, which can significantly contribute to a safe landing.

Other choices highlight practices that could lead to jeopardizing safety. Following visual cues alone may not provide complete situational awareness, relying solely on autopilot can reduce a pilot's engagement with changing conditions, and waiting until the last minute to check approach charts can leave little time to address potential issues.