If approaching Madera Airport with 1 mile visibility, what must you do to remain compliant?

To remain compliant while approaching Madera Airport with only 1 mile visibility, descending to below 700 feet AGL is the correct action. This is because, under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), pilots must maintain specific visibility and cloud clearance requirements when flying. In many cases, for operations such as landing, a minimum visibility of 3 miles is typically required unless otherwise specified for the airspace or airport in question.

If visibility is less than the established minimums, a pilot must typically operate in a manner that allows them to navigate safely, which may involve descending to a specific altitude such as below 700 feet AGL where conditions might allow recovering visuals for a safe landing. This can also enable the pilot to see and avoid obstacles and other traffic.

Maintaining or ascending above 1,500 feet AGL would not be compliant as it does not allow the pilot to safely approach or land under the given visibility constraints. Contacting ATC for permission to land, while a good practice, does not directly address the immediate need to comply with visibility requirements. Continuing to land as normal would put the aircraft and its passengers at risk, as reduced visibility can create dangerous landing conditions.