BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
I'm probably just overlooking something basic but...
Several times (ok, most of the time) going into Charlotte, approach will say somthing like
"Traffic 2 to 3 oclock. Airport 1 oclock 10 miles. Report either the traffic or the airport in sight."
If we respond that we have the airport they clear us for the visual number what ever, following the traffic. That makes sense.
However, if we just report the traffic they often say (and I'm not sure I am getting the phrasing right
"Following the traffic, cleared for the visual approach to runway XX."
Now, I was under the impression to be cleared for a visual you must have the runway complex or the runway in sight. In this instance we only have traffic we are following in sight and have no idea where the runways are. I mean, we do have the pretty white line getting us there on the MFD, but I don't think that counts.
Several times (ok, most of the time) going into Charlotte, approach will say somthing like
"Traffic 2 to 3 oclock. Airport 1 oclock 10 miles. Report either the traffic or the airport in sight."
If we respond that we have the airport they clear us for the visual number what ever, following the traffic. That makes sense.
However, if we just report the traffic they often say (and I'm not sure I am getting the phrasing right
"Following the traffic, cleared for the visual approach to runway XX."
Now, I was under the impression to be cleared for a visual you must have the runway complex or the runway in sight. In this instance we only have traffic we are following in sight and have no idea where the runways are. I mean, we do have the pretty white line getting us there on the MFD, but I don't think that counts.