Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Some visual arrivals follow published guidance designed to enhance situational awareness and traffic flow near complex airports. Understanding the Charted Visual Flight Procedure (CVFP) helps pilots recognize how charted routes, visual checkpoints, and ATC coordination support safe visual approaches.

Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Introduction to Charted Visual Flight Procedure

  • A visual approach is a procedure for a runway at an airport conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), where the pilot proceeds by visual reference and is clear of clouds to the airport.
  • The Federal Aviation Administration publishes Charted Visual Flight Procedures (CVFPs) for environmental/noise considerations and/or when necessary for the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations.
    • Designed primarily for turbojet aircraft.
  • Located from various sources, these procedures outline what pilots should follow.
  • CVFPs are not instrument approaches and do not have a Missed Approach Point (MAP).
  • Unless indicating a class Bravo airspace floor, all depicted altitudes are for noise abatement purposes and recommended only.
    • Pilots may fly at altitudes other than those recommended if operational requirements dictate.
    • ATC may assign additional restrictions.
Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Charted Visual Flight Procedure Key Highlights

  • Charted Visual Flight Procedures (CVFPs) provide published visual approach guidance into specific airports under visual meteorological conditions.
  • CVFPs are designed to reduce pilot and controller workload while improving traffic flow and situational awareness.
  • Published procedures typically include visual checkpoints, altitudes, headings, and noise abatement considerations.
  • Pilots must maintain visual reference with the airport environment and comply with all applicable visual flight requirements.
  • Air traffic control may assign a CVFP when weather conditions support visual operations and the pilot accepts the clearance.
  • CVFPs often incorporate terrain avoidance, obstacle clearance, and local traffic management considerations.
  • Pilots remain responsible for maintaining terrain and obstacle clearance during visual approach operations.
  • Navigation systems, moving maps, and published charts can assist pilots in identifying checkpoints and maintaining proper routing.
  • Reduced visibility, unfamiliar terrain, or excessive workload can increase operational risk during visual procedures.
  • Understanding CVFP operations improves visual approach efficiency, situational awareness, and airport arrival safety.
Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Charted Visual Approach Procedure Purpose

  • CVFPs are when the Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility manager, in coordination with airport management, determines that the procedure would mitigate aircraft noise or improve safety and efficiency.
  • The FAA develops a CVFP only after exhausting all PBN approach options.
Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Locating Charted Visual Approach Procedures

Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Charted Visual Approach Procedure Depiction

  • Charted Visual Flight Procedure (CVFP)
    North Bay Visual Runway 17L
  • Depict prominent landmarks, courses, and recommended altitudes to specific runways.
  • Most charts depict some Navigational Aid (NAVAID) information for supplemental navigation guidance, beginning within 20 Nautical Miles (NM) from the airport.
Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Charted Visual Approach Procedure Requirements

  • There is an operating control tower.
  • ATC will not issue clearances for CVFPs when the weather is less than the published minimum
    • Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.155/157, visibility is determined by the PIC.
    • Minimum vectoring altitudes influence published weather minimums, rather than recommended altitudes depicted on charts.
  • When using parallel or intersecting/converging runways, the criteria specified in JO 7110.65 (7-4-4), Approaches to Multiple Runways, are applied.
  • An aircraft not following another aircraft on the approach reports sighting a charted visual landmark, or reports sighting a preceding aircraft landing on the same runway, and has been instructed to follow that aircraft.
    • If instructed to follow a preceding aircraft, pilots are responsible for maintaining a safe approach interval and wake turbulence separation.
  • When landmarks used for navigation are not visible at night, the approach will be annotated "procedure not authorized at night."
Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Charted Visual Approach Procedure Clearance

  • ATC: "[Callsign], cleared [Approach] approach."
  • Pilots should advise ATC if at any point they are unable to continue an approach or lose sight of a preceding aircraft.
    • Air Traffic Control handles missed approaches as go-arounds.
    • Have pre-planned climb-out options based on aircraft performance and terrain features.
  • When conducting visual approaches, pilots are encouraged to use other available navigational aids to assist in positive lateral and vertical alignment with the assigned runway.
Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Charted Visual Flight Procedures Conclusion

  • To learn more about instrument procedures, be sure to check out the Instrument Procedures Handbook online or in paperback.
  • Pilots can visit the FAA's Instrument Flight Procedures Information Gateway to review and submit questions related to how and why certain procedures are as they are.
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Charted Visual Flight Procedure

Charted Visual Flight Procedures References