Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

1 Answers

No instrument rating, can I practice approaches in VFR?

Asked by: 7697 views , , , ,
Instrument Rating

I am currently a vfr pilot in training for an instrument rating. I would like to practice between lessons and was wondering if it is legal for me to ask ATC for practice instrument approaches when I am out on my own in vfr conditions? I realize the importance maintaining my scan outside as well as inside the cockpit in this situation and would also invite another pilot to look out for traffic if this practice was legal.

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

1 Answers



  1. Gary Moore on Aug 02, 2010

    You cannot file IFR nor request an IFR clearance. You must operate under VFR and stay in VMC conditions. But nothing ‘prohibits’ you from practicing Instrument Approaches.

    BUT – the very nature of practicing IFR approcaches doesn’t jive well with solo VFR flying. You should definitly take along a qualified safety pilot.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 2 Votes Thumb down 1 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.