Pilot/Controller Glossary Pilot/Controller Glossary  8/15/19 1/30/20  a.  Flight Visibility- The visibility forward from  the cockpit of an aircraft in flight.  b.  Ground Visibility- The visibility at an  aerodrome as reported by an accredited observer.  c.  Runway Visual Range [RVR]- The range over  which the pilot of an aircraft on the centerline of a  runway can see the runway surface markings or the  lights delineating the runway or identifying its  centerline.  VISUAL APPROACH- An approach conducted on  an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which  authorizes the pilot to proceed visually and clear of  clouds to the airport. The pilot must, at all times, have  either the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight.  This approach must be authorized and under the  control of the appropriate air traffic control facility.  Reported weather at the airport must be: ceiling at or  above 1,000 feet, and visibility of 3 miles or greater.  (See ICAO term VISUAL APPROACH.)  VISUAL APPROACH [ICAO]- An approach by an  IFR flight when either part or all of an instrument  approach procedure is not completed and the  approach is executed in visual reference to terrain.  VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR  (VASI)- (See AIRPORT LIGHTING.)  VISUAL CLIMB OVER AIRPORT (VCOA)- A  departure option for an IFR aircraft, operating in  visual meteorological conditions equal to or greater  than the specified visibility and ceiling, to visually  conduct climbing turns over the airport to the  published “climb-to” altitude from which to proceed  with the instrument portion of the departure. VCOA  procedures are developed to avoid obstacles greater  than 3 statute miles from the departure end of the  runway as an alternative to complying with climb  gradients greater than 200 feet per nautical mile.  Pilots are responsible to advise ATC as early as  possible of the intent to fly the VCOA option prior to  departure. These textual procedures are published in  the ‘Take-Off Minimums and (Obstacle) Departure  Procedures' section of the Terminal Procedures  Publications and/or appear as an option on a Graphic  ODP.  (See AIM.)  b.  A pilot sees the other aircraft involved and upon  instructions from the controller provides his/her own  separation by maneuvering his/her aircraft as  a.  The tower controller sees the aircraft involved  and issues instructions, as necessary, to ensure that  the aircraft avoid each other.  VISUAL SEPARATION- A means employed by  ATC to separate aircraft in terminal areas and en route  airspace in the NAS. There are two ways to effect this  separation:  (See PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT APPROACH  PROCEDURE VISUAL SEGMENT.)  VISUAL SEGMENT- (See INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES.)  (See INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL  CONDITIONS.)  (See VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.)  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS- Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of  visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling equal to or  better than specified minima.  (See HOLDING FIX.)  VISUAL HOLDING- The holding of aircraft at  selected, prominent geographical fixes which can be  easily recognized from the air.  (See INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES.)  (See INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL  CONDITIONS.)  (See VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL  CONDITIONS.)  (Refer to 14 CFR Part 91.)  (Refer to AIM.)  VISUAL FLIGHT RULES- Rules that govern the  procedures for conducting flight under visual  conditions. The term “VFR” is also used in the  United States to indicate weather conditions that are  equal to or greater than minimum VFR requirements.  In addition, it is used by pilots and controllers to  indicate type of flight plan.  VISUAL DESCENT POINT- A defined point on the  final approach course of a nonprecision straight-in  approach procedure from which normal descent from  the MDA to the runway touchdown point may be  commenced, provided the approach threshold of that  runway, or approach lights, or other markings  identifiable with the approach end of that runway are  clearly visible to the pilot.  PCG V-3 