I am confused. I hear so often a "request simulate ILS approach" or "request simulate flying approach X" from people just doing practise in VMC as a simple PPL holder that I never questioned it. Usually the clearance would contain a "prepare to abort if we tell you", but no more.
Yes, you don't get an official IFR clearance without appropriate rating or being in IR training, but if you kindly ask a tower to fly a procedure in VMC and you don't get in the way of IFR traffic, I would never expect a denial. In contrast, traing gains so much, I cannot imagine a controller would deny.
In fact, we just did exactly that a couple of days ago when training a friend for NFQ, request simulated ILS approach at a big airport in evening airliner traffic and were easily allowed for low approach as VFR traffic and a "remain VMC" clearance.
Last edited by ChickenHouse; 22nd Jan 2017 at 18:54.