Under what conditions can you descend without an instrument approach?

• A. When the ceiling and visibility minimums allow descent from MEA, approach, and landing under basic VFR
• B. When you want to descend regardless of weather
• C. Only at night with clearance
• D. Only with direct ATC authorization

Answer: (A)

This question is about using visual flight rules to descend without an instrument approach. You may descend from enroute altitude through the approach and to the landing visually only when you’re in basic VFR conditions—that is, the weather meets the basic VFR minimums (sufficient ceiling and visibility) for you to see the runway environment and stay clear of clouds. In that situation you can transition from the MEA down to the airport without performing an instrument approach, as long as you have the field in sight and you can maintain the required cloud clearance and visibility.

If the weather isn’t at least basic VFR, you’d need an instrument approach (or to divert), which is why options claiming you can descend regardless of weather or requiring special nighttime or direct ATC authorization don’t fit. The key idea is visual descent only when the weather supports basic VFR flight.