Embraer Legacy 600 (EMB135BJ)
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90; Flight Crew Total 9200; Flight Crew Type 5000
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Weather
During night IFR flight and arrival we were cleared for the RNAV (GPS) Rwy 32 into CXO. At about 500 AGL; after seeing the runway; without any warning; communication or request of my opinion; the Captain attempted to cancel IFR. I was caught by surprise and; as the pilot flying; continued to focus on the approach at hand. I told the Captain that the ceiling was too low to cancel; although we were in the clear and could see the runway. He continued to request to cancel IFR. Finally; just prior to touching down the request to cancel was received. We landed safely with no other issues.My belief is that the Captain was trying to do a favor for the aircraft behind us who was waiting to shoot the same approach. The tower at CXO was closed at the time and the aircraft behind us could not be cleared for the approach until we cancelled IFR. I also believe the Captain may have been a confused about the conditions under which we could cancel IFR. In this case the visibility was good but the ceiling too low. However; I verbally intervened but was more focused on flying the airplane. As a result I was left in the compromised position of either talking to him; talking on the radio or flying the aircraft. I elected to spend my energy flying and secondarily advising we should not cancel.I don't believe the Captain's actions were a deliberate attempt to circumvent the rules as much as perhaps a lack of knowledge and understanding as to when we can and cannot-or should not-cancel IFR.
The First Officer (PF) of an Embraer Legacy 600 mildly rebuked his Captain for attempting to cancel their IFR flight plan shortly after breaking out of an overcast at approximately 500 AGL on an RNAV approach; citing a ceiling precluding VFR flight.