At a controlled airport, what should a pilot do if they need to go around from a visual approach?

When a pilot is at a controlled airport and decides to go around during a visual approach, it is crucial to maintain safety and adhere to regulations. Remaining clear of clouds while waiting for an IFR clearance is the appropriate action in this scenario. This ensures the pilot can continue to operate within visual flight rules while also adhering to the air traffic control (ATC) instructions.

By staying clear of clouds, the pilot can maintain visual reference, which is essential during a go-around. Additionally, waiting for IFR clearance ensures that the pilot is operating under the correct flight rules, allowing for safe integration into the airspace, especially in busy or controlled environments where ATC manages the traffic flow.

Other responses indicate actions that may compromise safety or violate air traffic regulations. Landing immediately does not allow for reassessment of the situation, continuing the visual approach without clearance disregards ATC instructions, and requesting assistance from ground control is not appropriate as they are focused on ground traffic and may not have the necessary perspective on the go-around situation.