How to Request a VFR Practice Approach

For instrument students and rusty IFR pilots: how to get a real practice approach while staying VFR. · 5 min read

One of the best-kept secrets for instrument students and IFR pilots knocking off the rust is that you can shoot instrument approaches for practice without ever filing IFR. While remaining VFR, you ask Approach for a practice approach, and — workload permitting — they will sequence you, often give you vectors to the final approach course, and let you fly the whole procedure down to the runway. You get realistic, ATC-integrated approach practice; the catch is that because you are VFR, staying clear of clouds and terrain and separated from traffic remains entirely your job, not the controller’s.

The request

Call Approach, say the word "VFR" clearly so there is no confusion about your status, and name the specific approach you want:

🎙 You say “Approach, Skyhawk Five-Two-Kilo, VFR, request the practice ILS Runway three-one, Livermore.”

Say "VFR" clearly so ATC knows you are not on an IFR flight plan and are handling your own separation.

The vectors and clearance

Approach will assign a squawk if you do not have one, then vector you toward the final approach course. When they clear you, notice the words "maintain VFR" baked into the clearance — read it all back:

📻 ATC says “Skyhawk Five-Two-Kilo, turn left heading two-two-zero, maintain VFR, cleared practice ILS Runway three-one approach.”

🎙 You say “Left heading two-two-zero, maintain VFR, cleared practice ILS Runway three-one, Five-Two-Kilo.”

What "maintain VFR" really means

This is the part that trips up rusty pilots. On a real IFR clearance, ATC guarantees your separation and terrain clearance. On a VFR practice approach they do not — "maintain VFR" is your explicit reminder that you must stay out of the clouds, above the terrain, and clear of traffic yourself, even while your head is down flying the needles. If following the approach would take you into a cloud, you break it off. Treat the safety pilot or your own outside scan as non-negotiable.

💡 Because you are handling your own separation, a practice approach in actual marginal weather is a bad idea — save VFR practice approaches for good VMC, and file IFR when the weather is genuinely low.

💡 The only way this becomes automatic is saying it out loud, dozens of times, before you key a live mic. That is exactly what ATCpal is for — practice requesting a VFR practice approach. Practice it free at atcpal.app.

Phraseology sourced from the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (Change 3, effective 9 July 2026) and the Pilot/Controller Glossary. Check the AIM · Last reviewed 13 August 2026.

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