Originally Posted by
Capt Scribble
If you find VFR conditions on the approach and they exist to touchdown, you would be free to ask the controller for a visual approach. A circling approach can normally be flown with a lower cloudbase and so long as you can keep the touchdown point visual you can continue without VFR conditions.
Folks,
Captain Scribble is on the right track.
Visual circling is the visual segment of a non-precision instrument approach.
A VISUAL APPROACH is NOT the same, and the rules for a visual approach vary somewhat from state to state. A VISUAL Approach might require a circuit, which is NOT circling.
Make certain you know the difference, the ceiling and visibility required for a visual approach will be (generally) much higher than for a circling minima, and if an instrument approach (of any kind) has no minima for same, can't be done ---- but that does not preclude visual approach, having abandoned, with ATC clearance, the instrument approach.
Make very very certain you understand the definitions, difference and the local rules.
Tootle pip!!