During a visual approach, what is a pilot responsible for?

During a visual approach, the pilot’s primary responsibility is to maintain visual separation from other aircraft. This involves actively scanning for traffic, ensuring safe distances from other airplanes, and adhering to any traffic patterns or procedures that may be in place. The essence of a visual approach is that it allows pilots to navigate and land based on visual cues rather than relying solely on instruments, which places a greater emphasis on situational awareness and the need to stay vigilant about the surrounding environment.

While pilots also make decisions regarding descent altitude, communicate with air traffic control (ATC), and prepare their aircraft for landing gear deployment, these tasks are secondary to the critical responsibility of maintaining a safe separation from other aircraft during the approach. Hence, the focus during a visual approach is primarily on ensuring a clear and safe flight path in relation to other traffic in the area.