Can't understand why a pilot would be cleared for an ILS approach and a visual approach? Anyone know?
On a visual approach, ATC can relax their required radar separation standard and the pilot becomes responsible for traffic separation. This is particularly applicable for IVAs during parallel runway ops.
EG - You are in IMC and cleared for the ILS. You are on decent to 4000' (alt the approach commences) ATC are maintaining a minimum 3nm/1000' radar separation with traffic on the adjacent approach. If you become visual at 4200' and are established on the LOC (or are on heading to intercept LOC and can see the runway), you can be cleared for a visual approach, at which point you become responsible for traffic separation with aircraft on the adjacent final.
That should answer the question of why the clearance would be issued.
