Jay Honeck wrote:


2. We often hear commercial airliners "cleared for the visual approach" into
thus-and-such an airport. However, we *also* often hear commercial
airliners "cleared for the ILS Rwy 14 approach" (for example) -- even though
conditions in the area are perfectly CAVU.

Since we haven't heard the airliner SAY they wanted an instrument approach,
how/why does the controller know to clear them for anything other than the
visual approach?

Practice. You didn't hear the initial contact when the airliner
requested a certain approach. Airline pilots, especially the regionals,
know the places they can get these practice approaches. We do this all
the time.