Visual Approach on a 747
 

Can approach or tower clear you on a visual on a wide body, say a 744. Also what is the standard rate of descent for such aircraft?

Sure! We do visual approaches routinely.

Depending on weight and approach speed, descent rate is 600-700 FPM.

Yup, it's pointed downhill at the same rate as any other plane doing the same forward speed.
If you're doing about 140kts, then it's about 700'/min.
For a large three-story building, they're surprisingly maneouverable.

So,what was the landing for the old Hong Kong international(Kai Tak)???was it a visual approach,or an instrument approach??? Have always wondered.

On a clear day a visual approach to R/W13 was possible and the CX pilots often did it, they being very familiar with the place.
For the rest of us it was usual to do an IGS, (Instrument Guidance System), approach which gave you Localiser and GP information down to a height of approx. 650' but on a track 45degrees to the R/W QDM, by which time you should be visual with the runway and able to complete the turn on and landing visually.

Man did I love the 13 IGS on the Whale on a clear day! :)

And if SIN ATC wasnt jittery and you had the right captain you could shoot a right-hand 3-leg vis appr from VTK onto 02R in the SQ Whale, and rollout on final at 500 feet. One of the rare occasions where you could hand-fly the big bastard around the circuit and actualy enjoy your flying (even if it did only last a few minutes)!

Slasher, more details on this SIN 02R approach please.

Why lah?