When is radar service considered terminated during a visual approach?

Radar service is considered terminated during a visual approach automatically when ATC instructs a pilot to contact the tower. This is because the transition from radar service to the control of the tower signifies that the aircraft is near the airport, in a position to land, and is now under the jurisdiction of the tower, which may then provide instructions or clearances specific to landing procedures.

Once ATC instructs the flight to contact the tower, the radar service, which has been providing separation and traffic advisories, is no longer in effect. Pilots are expected to operate under visual flight rules as they approach the airport and are now primarily reliant on their own visual observations and the instructions given by the tower. This procedure enhances the safety and efficiency of the landing process, ensuring that the pilot is aware of and compliant with the instructions from the control tower, which is optimized for managing arriving aircraft.

The other choices, while they may reference relevant events during a visual approach, do not accurately capture the formal termination of radar service as dictated by ATC procedures.