![When you break out of the clouds, it’s important to always follow the airport’s published approach for a safe landing. [Credit: Adobe Stock]](https://tbh.express/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/What-You-Need-to-Know-to-Create-an-IFR-Approach.jpeg "What You Need to Know to Create an IFR Approach")
It was November in Seattle. The ceiling had been going up and down all morning. A pilot was heard on the unicom asking for a runway advisory—he was still 6 miles out.
Although he was instrument rated, and the airplane was IFR equipped and legal for instrument flight, he chose to divert to a nearby airport and have his wife pick him up. The reason? The airport lacked a published instrument approach. He was not the first pilot to have this experience.
