A pilot reported he was on a base leg vector for a visual approach and was issued a frequency change...

Narrative:

We were being radar vectored for a visual approach and were told to report 'airport in sight'. Upon obtaining visual contact with the airport; we tried to notify approach that we had the airport in sight. Due to congested radio traffic we were not able to inform approach right away. When there was a gap in radio transmissions we immediately informed approach we had the airport in sight. We were quickly approaching the extended centerline of the runway; and we were at an altitude where we needed to begin our visual approach quickly.we reported 'airport in sight' with no response from approach. We reported 'airport in sight' again and approach asked for clarification of our call sign. The controller seemed confused as to who we were; and where we were. We responded again with our call sign and stated the airport was in sight. After a short pause; the controller told us to contact the tower. We asked for clarification about whether we were cleared for a visual approach. I don't think we received a reply. We contacted the tower; but by this time we had flown through the final approach course and were no longer in a position to land.tower queried us about our position and status. We told them 'we were told to contact tower; but were never cleared for a visual approach.' tower asked for clarification by repeating what we just told them; and we confirmed. Tower then asked did you come to tower on your own; or were you told to contact tower. We stated 'we were told to contact tower; but were not cleared for a visual.' she then gave us vectors to parallel the runway until we were abeam the departure end; then they turned us over to approach. We were now speaking with a different approach controller than the one who never cleared us for the visual. He vectored us around for another visual approach. We continued the approach and landing without incident.since we know it was approach control's intent to issue a visual approach once the airport was in sight; we could have made the approach without the explicit clearance. We did not feel this would be appropriate; even though it would delay our flight by having to come around for another approach. To our knowledge no one was endangered nor was a traffic conflict created with another aircraft. There was no traffic for the parallel runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot reported he was on a base leg vector for a visual approach and was issued a frequency change to the Tower without receiving an approach clearance.

Narrative: We were being radar vectored for a Visual Approach and were told to report 'airport in sight'. Upon obtaining visual contact with the airport; we tried to notify Approach that we had the airport in sight. Due to congested radio traffic we were not able to inform Approach right away. When there was a gap in radio transmissions we immediately informed Approach we had the airport in sight. We were quickly approaching the extended centerline of the runway; and we were at an altitude where we needed to begin our Visual Approach quickly.We reported 'airport in sight' with no response from Approach. We reported 'airport in sight' again and Approach asked for clarification of our call sign. The controller seemed confused as to who we were; and where we were. We responded again with our call sign and stated the airport was in sight. After a short pause; the controller told us to contact the Tower. We asked for clarification about whether we were cleared for a visual approach. I don't think we received a reply. We contacted the Tower; but by this time we had flown through the final approach course and were no longer in a position to land.Tower queried us about our position and status. We told them 'we were told to contact Tower; but were never cleared for a visual approach.' Tower asked for clarification by repeating what we just told them; and we confirmed. Tower then asked did you come to Tower on your own; or were you told to contact Tower. We stated 'we were told to contact Tower; but were not cleared for a visual.' She then gave us vectors to parallel the runway until we were abeam the departure end; then they turned us over to Approach. We were now speaking with a different approach controller than the one who never cleared us for the visual. He vectored us around for another visual approach. We continued the approach and landing without incident.Since we know it was Approach Control's intent to issue a visual approach once the airport was in sight; we could have made the approach without the explicit clearance. We did not feel this would be appropriate; even though it would delay our flight by having to come around for another approach. To our knowledge no one was endangered nor was a traffic conflict created with another aircraft. There was no traffic for the parallel runway.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1441953
Time
Date	201704
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	D10.TRACON
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Gulfstream G200 (IAI 1126 Galaxy)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach

A pilot reported he was on a base leg vector for a visual approach and was issued a frequency change to the tower without receiving an approach clearance.