Narrative:

We were cleared for the visual approach into the yuma airport. The captain said we needed to enter the air traffic area at 1200 ft MSL. I replied that we had not been given the restriction to do so. The captain stated that he/she believed we must do so anyway. We entered the air traffic area at 1200 ft MSL. The airport facilities directory states that all GA and air carrier aircraft operating VFR enter the air traffic area at 1200 ft MSL. The pilot/controller glossary does not imply that a visual approach is operating under visual flight rules, but only that the cloud separation criteria of part 91 be complied with. It would be clrer if the controller(south) would give the restriction at all times or if the airport facilities directory were written so the word 'VFR' would read 'VFR or aircraft on a visual approach' -- since a visual approach is an IFR clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER FO AND CAPT DISAGREE ABOUT MIN ALT FOR ENTERING YUM ATA.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH INTO THE YUMA ARPT. THE CAPT SAID WE NEEDED TO ENTER THE ATA AT 1200 FT MSL. I REPLIED THAT WE HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN THE RESTRICTION TO DO SO. THE CAPT STATED THAT HE/SHE BELIEVED WE MUST DO SO ANYWAY. WE ENTERED THE ATA AT 1200 FT MSL. THE ARPT FACILITIES DIRECTORY STATES THAT ALL GA AND ACR ACFT OPERATING VFR ENTER THE ATA AT 1200 FT MSL. THE PLT/CTLR GLOSSARY DOES NOT IMPLY THAT A VISUAL APCH IS OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLT RULES, BUT ONLY THAT THE CLOUD SEPARATION CRITERIA OF PART 91 BE COMPLIED WITH. IT WOULD BE CLRER IF THE CTLR(S) WOULD GIVE THE RESTRICTION AT ALL TIMES OR IF THE ARPT FACILITIES DIRECTORY WERE WRITTEN SO THE WORD 'VFR' WOULD READ 'VFR OR ACFT ON A VISUAL APCH' -- SINCE A VISUAL APCH IS AN IFR CLRNC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.