Originally Posted by
BahDumbTish
<snip> Special VFR should only be requested if SVFR is required. If the ATIS says "expect instrument approach" and you are VFR and able to proceed in VMC, all you are doing by requesting Special VFR is possibly delaying your own flight by requiring unnecessary separation.
If it’s EIA you have no option but to expect to request SVFR (usually). You don’t get the option to come in normally.