IFR separation and vectoring (USA)
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Age: 35
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IFR separation and vectoring (USA)
What is the minimum separation the controller should have between IFR/IFR VFR/IFR traffic. Is there any difference if the weather conditions are VMC or IMC?
If weather is VMC and you are approaching the airport in a little C172, do they have to vector you out on a long downwind to put you out a set distance from the airport because you are IFR? If traffic werent a factor, could you expect to get the visual approach and fly something like a 1nm final or the controllers are not allowed to give you such a short final because you are IFR?
I was just thinking about this because I remember being vectored like 7nm out into the sea at night before I was instructed to start my base leg. There were no other traffic at the time, so now I wonder... If I had canceled my IFR flight would the controller had turned me earlier? If so, then is it a smart practice to cancel IFR to give controllers a break once you are arriving to the airport in perfectly good VMC?
If weather is VMC and you are approaching the airport in a little C172, do they have to vector you out on a long downwind to put you out a set distance from the airport because you are IFR? If traffic werent a factor, could you expect to get the visual approach and fly something like a 1nm final or the controllers are not allowed to give you such a short final because you are IFR?
I was just thinking about this because I remember being vectored like 7nm out into the sea at night before I was instructed to start my base leg. There were no other traffic at the time, so now I wonder... If I had canceled my IFR flight would the controller had turned me earlier? If so, then is it a smart practice to cancel IFR to give controllers a break once you are arriving to the airport in perfectly good VMC?
