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Citation pilot reported the tower changed an instrument approach to a visual approach against the pilot's wishes.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1510779 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201801 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | SMO.Tower |
| State Reference | CA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Citationjet (C525/C526) - CJ I / II / III / IV |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 56 Flight Crew Total 3200 Flight Crew Type 280 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
Tower has an ongoing practice that I consider unsafe. Generally; it is hazy on the coast; so ATC will vector me on to an instrument approach. I will be cleared for the approach by approach and switched to tower. Tower invariably asks me to report the airport in sight prior to issuing landing clearance. When I report it in sight; they re-clear me for the visual approach. By this point; I have already briefed and committed to the IFR missed approach procedure. In a single-pilot jet; I don't have time to be going heads-down looking for a VFR pattern altitude and direction in the event of a go-around at this point in the flight. Although this has happened to me repeatedly; yesterday was the event that prompted this report. Between late afternoon sunlight and haze; I didn't pick up the airport until approximately a 3 mile final. I reported the airport in sight but told tower that I wanted to continue the approach. Their response was that I was cleared for the visual; but could fly it any way I wanted. In effect overriding the approach request of the pilot in command. After landing; I asked ground control why they do this; and [I] was told it has to do with proximity to a large major airport. Regardless of convenience to ATC; changing approaches on short final against the pilot in command's wish constitutes an unsafe condition to me.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Citation pilot reported the Tower changed an instrument approach to a Visual Approach against the pilot's wishes.
Narrative: Tower has an ongoing practice that I consider unsafe. Generally; it is hazy on the coast; so ATC will vector me on to an instrument approach. I will be cleared for the approach by Approach and switched to Tower. Tower invariably asks me to report the airport in sight prior to issuing landing clearance. When I report it in sight; they re-clear me for the Visual Approach. By this point; I have already briefed and committed to the IFR missed approach procedure. In a single-pilot jet; I don't have time to be going heads-down looking for a VFR pattern altitude and direction in the event of a go-around at this point in the flight. Although this has happened to me repeatedly; yesterday was the event that prompted this report. Between late afternoon sunlight and haze; I didn't pick up the airport until approximately a 3 mile final. I reported the airport in sight but told Tower that I wanted to continue the approach. Their response was that I was cleared for the visual; but could fly it any way I wanted. In effect overriding the approach request of the pilot in command. After landing; I asked ground control why they do this; and [I] was told it has to do with proximity to a large major airport. Regardless of convenience to ATC; changing approaches on short final against the Pilot In Command's wish constitutes an unsafe condition to me.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.