Which of the following is a requirement for initiating a visual approach?

• A. You must have IFR clearance
• B. You must have airport or preceding aircraft in sight
• C. You must be within Class A airspace
• D. You must remain in Class G airspace

Answer: (C)

Initiating a visual approach relies on having a visual reference to fly toward the airport. The essential requirement is that you, the pilot, must have either the airport in sight or the preceding aircraft in sight. That visual reference lets you navigate the approach visually while ATC provides guidance and separation. Weather must be at least VFR, and ATC must clear you for the approach, but you don’t have to be in Class A airspace, and you aren’t required to remain in Class G. Visual approaches can be conducted in other controlled airspaces (such as B, C, D, or E) as long as you can maintain that visual reference. So, the key criterion is having the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight.