What is the minimum visibility requirement for a contact approach?

The minimum visibility requirement for a contact approach is 1 mile. A contact approach allows a pilot to deviate from standard IFR procedures with the intent of visually navigating to the airport, provided certain conditions are met. One of these conditions is that the visibility must be at least 1 statute mile.

This requirement is significant because it ensures the pilot has enough visual reference to navigate safely to the airport. In contrast, the approach must still comply with maintaining visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, which emphasizes safety during the transition from instrument to visual navigation. Therefore, the requirement of 1 mile strikes a balance between allowing pilots to utilize their visual skills while also ensuring sufficient visibility for safety purposes.