VFR Minima: Flight Visibility and Distance from Cloud

SERA sets the minimum weather for visual flight (VMC, visual meteorological conditions) in Table S5-1. Except as a special VFR flight, you must fly VFR with at least this flight visibility and distance from cloud. Flight visibility is the visibility forward from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight.

Table S5-1

Altitude band	Airspace classes	Flight visibility	Distance from cloud
at and above 10,000 ft AMSL	A (guidance only), B, C, D, E, F, G	8 km	1,500 m horizontally, 1,000 ft vertically
below 10,000 ft AMSL and above 3,000 ft AMSL, or above 1,000 ft above terrain, whichever is the higher	A (guidance only), B, C, D, E, F, G	5 km	1,500 m horizontally, 1,000 ft vertically
at and below 3,000 ft AMSL, or 1,000 ft above terrain, whichever is the higher	A (guidance only), B, C, D, E	5 km	1,500 m horizontally, 1,000 ft vertically
as above	F, G	5 km	clear of cloud and with the surface in sight

The values for Class A are in the table for guidance only. They do not mean that VFR flights are accepted in Class A.

How to read the table

The higher value decides

The boundary to the lowest band is 3,000 ft AMSL or 1,000 ft above terrain, whichever is higher. If the terrain is higher than 2,000 ft AMSL, 1,000 ft above terrain is the higher value.

Transition altitude below 10,000 ft

The transition altitude is the altitude at or below which the vertical position of an aircraft is controlled by reference to altitudes. Where it is below 10,000 ft AMSL, FL 100 is used in lieu of 10,000 ft.

Less flight visibility in F and G

When the competent authority prescribes it, flight visibility in the lowest band of Classes F and G may be reduced to not less than 1,500 m: at 140 kt IAS or less, or where encounters with other traffic are normally unlikely. The authority may likewise permit helicopters to operate in less than 1,500 m but not less than 800 m flight visibility if they are manoeuvred at a speed that gives adequate opportunity to observe other traffic and obstacles in time to avoid collision.

Further minima

Weather at the aerodrome in a control zone

In a control zone you must not take off, land, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or traffic circuit without an air traffic control clearance if the reported ceiling is below 1,500 ft or the ground visibility is below 5 km. The ceiling is the height above the ground or water of the base of the lowest layer of cloud below 20,000 ft covering more than half the sky. Ground visibility is the visibility at the aerodrome, as reported by an accredited observer or by automatic systems.

Special VFR

In weather below VMC, air traffic control can clear a VFR flight in a control zone as a special VFR flight. You then fly clear of cloud and with the surface in sight, with at least 1,500 m flight visibility (helicopters at least 800 m) and at 140 kt IAS or less. Special VFR may be conducted during the day only, unless the competent authority permits otherwise. ATC does not issue a special VFR clearance for take-off, landing or the traffic circuit if the reported ground visibility is below 1,500 m (helicopters 800 m) or the ceiling is below 600 ft.

Minimum heights are a different matter

Over congested areas of cities, towns or settlements or over an open-air assembly of persons, you must not fly lower than 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m. Elsewhere the minimum is 500 ft above the ground, water or the highest obstacle within a radius of 150 m. Exceptions apply where necessary for take-off or landing, or with permission from the competent authority.

What the EASA syllabus says

The EASA syllabus for the PPL(A) theoretical knowledge lists, in the subject Air Law, the general rules and the visual flight rules under “Annex 2: Rules of the air”.