Although I keep searching in vain the difference, I cannot, for the life of me, explain the finer point between the two.
It almost looks like as if a contact approach is a visual but without the visual of the destination.
Of course, nowadays, if one was to request a contact approach, most likely we are going to either get a blank or an instantaneous "unable" from the controller; who is just as puzzled as me regarding what the hell is it that I want. The fact that he/she probably can't remember if standard traffic separation has to be maintained is another story; needless to say, if one was to raise such a request, the whole ARTCC would scramble to go find a copy of the ops manual 6715-blablabla, to fetch an answer to the separation issue.

Anyhow, can someone please finally lift the veil off of this obscure medieval procedure? There is no such thing as too long of an answer!!!

Here ya go "contact and visual approach"

Basically it seems that with a contact approach you can fly it during instrument meteorological conditions as long as you have a 1NM visibility in front of you. (there is no ceiling restrictions) while during a visual approach you have to have visual meteorological conditions. As well, only one aircraft at a time can be cleared for a contact approach and ATC is responsible for keeping some unspecified separation between IFR aircraft and the contact approach plane.

Contact= 1 mile, clear of clouds
Visual= 1,000', 3 miles and you must maintain visual contact with the runway environment

I have flown many contact approachs. I recall one just last month into BArnes MAss.

Of course I was on an instrument flight plan, as I arrived over the field, I could see the runway, and I didn't want to get vectored all the way out for an ILS. I reported that I had the field in sight and I wanted a contact approach. It was granted and flown as a tight short approach!

Just so those students reading this will have no misunderstanding, ATC will never offer, suggest, or assign the contact approach, even if conditions and circumstances warrant one. You have to request it when you find yourself in a pinch, or like Hawker said, when convenient to you if you happen to hold an IFR ticket and don't want to shoot the full or vectored published approach.

ah! I see someone didn't read the link. lol

My appologies Canuck! I'm busted. You provided a great link explaining everything. Maybe I should have actually READ them before spouting off comments!

Thanks for doing the legwork and providing a good link! I promise to read more thoroughly in the future....

Hey Bernoulli / Canuck: Kudos to both of you! Never a bad idea to know the rules and when/where/why to employ what the rules allow. And like my Bud, Ranger, said, during a visual approach you have to keep something in sight -- runway or airplane. Yeah, you can get a visual approach clearance without seeing the runway, if you tell the controller you see the aircraft you're following. BUT -- it will then be YOUR responsibility (not the controller's) to maintain aircraft separation.

I also agree that if you request a contact approach, 99% of the time the controller will grant it, if he/she can.

AirRabbit

actually, I have to admit that I'm a little hipocritical on this one. I only read links that interest me and judging by the fact that you're a pilot, it probably didn't interest you. The link was a little long as well; but it always feels nice to get someone to apologize to you. :D

You are not the only hypocrite here. I just finished admonishing others for incorrect spelling in another post, yet my creative version of "apologies" appeared above.

Bernoulli is waiting for his due lashes.

lol, just as you told me before "there will be no lashes for you".....at least not....today...

Watch out, guys! The speling pohlice or the feared aLL CAPS PEEPLE WiLL coMe aND Get YU.