When can contact approach be used?

Contact approach can be used as a method of maneuvering an aircraft from the enroute phase of flight to a runway, specifically when instrument approaches are not viable or desirable. This approach allows pilots to navigate visually, utilizing the reported ground visibility at the destination airport, rather than strictly adhering to the structured Instrument Approach Procedures (IAPs).

The key requirement for a contact approach is that the pilot must have at least one mile visibility and remain clear of clouds. This allows pilots to rely on visual references rather than solely following instrument indications. Therefore, using contact approach in lieu of a standard IAP aligns with these principles, since it provides an alternative means to achieve a safe landing without the constraints of a full instrument approach.

For the other potential answers, they do not fully encapsulate the regulations surrounding contact approaches, as they are either too restrictive or misrepresent the conditions under which a contact approach can legally be used.