Hi,If you're flying a VFR flight plan, is it against any regulations to shoot an ILS approach down to the runway? Is that even possible?

Yes, it is possible and done often for training. You ask ATC for a practice ILS approach.

Remember that a VFR flight plan isn't like an IFR one. A VFR flight plan is simply a flight plan filed via the flight service station (FSS) for search and rescue purposes and opened via the FSS as well. When the aircraft doesn't close the VFR flight plan by the allotted time, people start looking for it! (FAA,local authorities, CAP)On the other hand, one can have "flight following" (radar services) when VFR.I commonly shoot approaches for currency when VFR using Greensboro approach for their radar services.

Edited January 14, 201214 yr by ZachLW

Do you even need to ask?No one outside the aircraft would be able to tell wether you are flying an approach on sight or on instruments.

Do you even need to ask?No one outside the aircraft would be able to tell wether you are flying an approach on sight or on instruments.

If you're VFR obviously you're not flying solely by instruments. Unless of course you have a safety pilot. It'd be illegal to go IMC. You're not going to get IFR approaches unless you request them when VFR.

Edited January 14, 201214 yr by ZachLW

If you're VFR obviously you're not flying solely by instruments. Unless of course you have a safety pilot. It'd be illegal to go IMC.You're not going to get IFR approaches unless you request them when VFR.

I think what he is saying is that Noone would be able to tell if you have the ILS freq tuned in, so technically you can fly the "modified" ils (IN MY OWN TERMS) without anyone knowing that you are following the glideslope. Obviously it wouldnt be a full approach but you can definetly practice following the ILS without anyone ever knowing you are.And yes, IMC would be illegal, but you dont need IMC to practice IFR procedures, Just as if you would go VFR and practice intercepting VOR's, NDB's etc.Its what I do IRL.

Edited January 15, 201214 yr by flyinpilot212121

I think what he is saying is that Noone would be able to tell if you have the ILS freq tuned in, so technically you can fly the "modified" ils (IN MY OWN TERMS) without anyone knowing that you are following the glideslope. Obviously it wouldnt be a full approach but you can definetly practice following the ILS without anyone ever knowing you are.And yes, IMC would be illegal, but you dont need IMC to practice IFR procedures, Just as if you would go VFR and practice intercepting VOR's, NDB's etc.Its what I do IRL.

Shooting the ILS when you should be doing a left base could irritate ATC (just an example). I can come up with a million more reasons ATC should know you're shooting an approach. Remember the scenarioi used had us using radar services ;)I'm on my cell so a decent response is difficult.

To the OP:What exactly do you mean by "flying a VFR flight plan," and, " shoot an ILS approach down to the runway"Flying a VFR flight plan has nothing to do with how you come into the runway, and if you were wanting to practice approaches, you probably shouldn't have filed a flight plan, or you should cancel it before doing practice approaches (to keep FSS from trying to find you if you don't cancel your FP in time).The reason I ask is following a LOC/GS to the runway, and flying an ILS approach aren't necessarily the same thing. If you're just referring to following the GS and LOC, then of course that's okay, assuming you have properly entered the pattern as required or as instructed.If you're talking about flying a full ILS approach from an IAF then you coordinate that with ATC. When you're flying VFR, you handle flying into the airport completely differently than flying an ILS approach straight to the runway. Even if you're at an uncontrolled airport, there are pattern entry rules you should follow.

I believe we're all (myself included) dissecting the word "flight plan" a bit much. Obviously one must be in contact with a controlling agency and under their radar services for the OP's question to be answered. Hence why I mentioned flight following (officially termed "radar advisories").

If you are flying VFR and want to shoot the ILS approach from the start you need to ask ATC permission to do so, since other IFR aircraft might be arriving to that airport and they will shoot the approach as well and they have "priority", so to speak, over a VFR aircraft to perform an IFR approach and of course the IFR aircraft is issued traffic separation, i.e. taking you (in the VFR aircraft) away from the approach path. If you are just flying into an airport and decided to fly the ILS signals just by intercepting them, say, in the final leg, then you are OK without ATC's permission.

It would seem you're implying I need explicit permission to shoot an instrument approach whenever VFR. Which isn't true. We're really muddying the water now.

It would seem you're implying I need explicit permission to shoot an instrument approach whenever VFR. Which isn't true. We're really muddying the water now.

Well, it is true in my country. You do need permission from ATC if you want to shoot the full approach (i.e. from the holding pattern), given that if you shoot the approach, you are flying in protected airspace for IFR aircraft and they have priority to use that airspace over VFR aircraft. You ask for permission to fly that approach, ATC knows if they have no incoming IFR traffic and they will clear you. If there's an IFR aircraft arriving to the airport and it will soon be commencing their IFR approach, your request will be denied or at the very least delayed until that aircraft lands.Again, that's how it works in my country

Thanks for sharing, Ed. That didn't cross my mind, but it probably should have!The only time that's the case here in the States is when (of course) weather is IFR. --I'm over simplifying here-- In theory all aircraft in airspace during this period will be IFR (not factoring scud runners who are breaking FARs) so spacing is provided to all aircraft in that sector because they are all participating in the ATC system. In this case, it becomes much like what you mentioned but then the OP question is moot (no VFR traffic). I'm sure you know that already.

Edited January 15, 201214 yr by ZachLW