Under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in 2026, visibility minimums are not a "one-size-fits-all" number; they are specific to the airport, the aircraft equipment, and the type of approach being flown. For a standard Category I (CAT I) ILS approach, the most common visibility minimum is 1/2 statute mile (or a Runway Visual Range of 2,400 feet). However, for advanced Category III (CAT III) approaches, which use sophisticated autoland systems, the visibility minimum can drop to zero (CAT IIIc), meaning the pilot can land with no outside visual reference at all. For takeoffs, commercial airlines (Part 121 operators) typically have a standard minimum of 1/4 mile visibility, though "Lower Than Standard" takeoff minimums can be authorized if the runway has specific lighting like High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL). In 2026, the FAA and ICAO also emphasize the use of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS), which allow pilots to use thermal imaging to land in even lower visibility than traditional instruments would permit.