AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2016 - 26

PILOT COUNSEL

VFR weather minimums,
the hard part

BY JOHN S. YODICE

Beyond the 'standard' minimums

JOHN S. YODICE is an

aviation attorney,
pilot, and longtime
aircraft owner.

26 | AOPA PILOT January 2016

AS PILOTS LEARN EARLY IN TRAINING, sections 91.155
and 91.157 of the federal aviation regulations tell the
minimum weather conditions required for a flight under
visual flight rules. Last month I reviewed what I call the
"standard" VFR weather minimums: visibility of at least
three statute miles; cloud clearance of at least 500 feet
below, 1,000 feet above, and 2,000 feet horizontally; and
a ceiling of at least 1,000 feet. In all of our national airspace below 10,000 feet mean sea level (where most VFR
flying happens), a pilot who complies with at least the
"standard" minimums will be in automatic compliance.
This month I'll discuss the more complicated, but
generally less stringent, minimums that are available in
some airspace for particular operations. We get to pick
and choose, but only if we want to.
Probably the less stringent minimums of greatest
importance to most pilots are the ones that apply in
uncontrolled airspace-that is, Class G-below 10,000
feet msl. During the daytime, pilots may operate VFR in
Class G airspace with as little as one mile visibility. The
"standard" cloud clearance minimums still apply, but
are lowered in operations at or below 1,200 feet above
ground level to "clear of clouds." At nighttime, regardless of altitude, the standard minimums for both visibility
and cloud clearance apply-with one narrow exception
for low-level nighttime operations at airports in uncontrolled airspace. Operating an airplane in the traffic
pattern of an airport in uncontrolled airspace, even at
night, the minimums are one mile visibility and clear of
clouds. To have the advantage of these lower minimums
at night, the airplane must operate at or below 1,200 feet
agl and remain within one-half mile of the runway.
Reduced minimums also are available in special VFR
operations. Ordinarily, within the lateral boundaries of the
controlled airspace that begins at the surface of an airport,
the standard VFR weather minimums apply. However, if
a special VFR clearance is first obtained from the controlling ATC facility, the special VFR minimums apply. The
special VFR weather minimums are quite a bit lower than
standard-one statute mile visibility and clear of clouds for
airplanes. For special VFR operations between the time
of sunset and sunrise (loosely "night"), the pilot must
be rated and current for instrument flight and the aircraft must be equipped for instrument flight. (In Alaska,
the "instrument" requirement applies when the sun is 6

degrees or more below the horizon). While a special VFR
clearance may be obtained at many airports, it is not permitted for fixed-wing aircraft at 33 airports, which are
identified on visual charts and in aeronautical publications. They are the airports with the highest traffic density.
A lower minimum in Class B airspace at first seems
strange. Class B airspace overlies our busiest air-carrier
airports, yet the standard cloud clearance requirements
are reduced to "clear of clouds." Consider, however, that
all traffic is provided separation service in Class B. The
standard three-mile visibility minimum still applies.
Helicopters, in general, must comply with the standard VFR weather minimums. However, their flight
characteristics allow less-stringent minimums at low
altitudes in uncontrolled airspace, and under special VFR. Below 1,200 feet agl in Class G airspace or
when operating under special VFR, a helicopter may be
operated clear of clouds without a numerical visibility
minimum so long as it is operated at a speed that allows
the pilot to see any air traffic or obstruction in time to
avoid a collision. For special VFR at night, helicopter
pilots do not have to be instrument-rated, and the helicopter does not have to be equipped for IFR.
One set of minimums in FAR 91.155 is higher-
that is, more stringent-than the standard minimums.
Those minimums apply at and above 10,000 feet msl. In
that airspace, flight visibility must be at least five statute miles and cloud clearance must be at least 1,000
feet below, 1,000 feet above, and one statute mile horizontally. These increased minimums have not proven
troublesome to VFR pilots operating at the middle altitudes. There are unique situations in mountainous areas
where it is possible to be operating at or below 1,200
feet agl and still be above 10,000 feet msl. In those circumstances, we can get the benefit of minimums less
than the standard: daytime, one mile and clear of clouds;
nighttime, three miles and standard cloud clearance,
except lower for nighttime operations in a close-in
traffic pattern of an airport, explained above. (Student,
recreational, and sport pilots have additional weather
restrictions placed on them by FAR Part 61.)
Complicated? Yes. But, happily, we get to pick and
choose or stick with "standard."
AOPA
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2016