If the preceding aircraft is not in sight, clearance for a visual approach requires that either radar separation or visual separation be maintained.

• A. Radar separation only
• B. Visual separation only
• C. Radar separation or visual separation
• D. Vertical separation

Answer: (C)

Visual approaches rely on either ATC keeping traffic separated with radar or the pilot maintaining visual separation from other aircraft. When the preceding aircraft isn’t in sight, you can’t count on the pilot to visually separate from that specific lead, so the controller must provide separation using radar or the pilot must maintain visual separation from other traffic. This makes the option that allows either radar separation or visual separation the correct approach. Vertical separation isn’t the method used here, and restricting to radar or to visual separation only would unnecessarily limit safe operations.