If the visibility falls below legal limits, what is the most appropriate action?

When visibility falls below legal limits, initiating a missed approach is the most appropriate action for several reasons related to safety and adherence to regulations.

In the context of aviation procedures, a missed approach is a standardized procedure that pilots execute when they cannot safely continue the approach to landing. By doing so, they ensure that they maintain safe flight operations while also allowing for a potential second attempt at landing when conditions improve or when it is safe to do so. This procedure aligns with both Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and standard operating procedures, focusing on maintaining safety in reduced visibility conditions.

The approach is designed to provide a clear path for the aircraft to follow, which includes climbing to a safe altitude and proceeding to a designated point where the pilot can reassess the situation. This response promotes safety by preventing landings in conditions that could lead to accidents or incidents due to insufficient visibility.

Choosing to report to ATC is also important, but it is typically a secondary action that should come after ensuring the aircraft is in a safe position, such as executing a missed approach. This ensures that air traffic controllers are aware of the situation and can assist further, but safety takes precedence.

Continuing to the runway or climbing to the Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA)