What is the visibility requirement for a pilot to request a contact approach?

The visibility requirement for a pilot to request a contact approach is 1 statute mile. A contact approach permits an aircraft to approach an airport using visual references instead of solely relying on instruments. The regulation stipulates that for a contact approach to be requested, the pilot must have at least 1 statute mile of visibility and be able to see the airport or the preceding aircraft to maintain visual separation.

This requirement ensures that pilots have sufficient visual references to safely navigate and land, minimizing the chance of a losing sight of the approach path due to low visibility. It also provides an opportunity for pilots to tailor their approach when conditions are marginal but still allow for safe landing operations. In contrast to the other choices, the specific visibility figure associated with the contact approach is well-defined in aviation standards, thus reinforcing the importance of the 1 statute mile requirement.