VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR)
When permitted by the class of airspace and in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) a pilot may elect to fly under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR). In conditions less than VMC in a control zone (CTR) a pilot may request an ATC clearance to fly under modified VFR called Special VFR (SVFR). In determining the existence of VMC, the pilot is the sole arbiter. If a pilot is unsure as to the existence of VMC he/she should assume IMC and fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). In any event, a pilot without authorisation to fly under IFR is required to satisfy him/herself that before beginning a flight under VFR, VMC exists along the entire route, or that alternate aerodromes are available for landing without flight in IMC.
Phrases
Phrases for for use use by by INTERCEPTING INTERCEPTING Aircraft Aircraft Phrases for Phrases for use use by by INTERCEPTED INTERCEPTED AircraftAircraft Phrase
Phrase Pronunciation Pronunciation Meaning Meaning Phrase Phrase Pronunciation Pronunciation MeaningMeaning CALL SIGN KOL SA-IN What is your call
sign? CALL SIGN KOL SA-IN My call sign is FOLLOW FOL-LO Follow me WILCO VILL-CO Understood, will
comply DESCEND DEE-SEND Descend for
landing CAN NOT KANN-NOTT Unable to comply YOU LAND YOU-LAND Land at this
aerodrome REPEAT REE-PEET
Repeat your instruction PROCEED PRO-SEED You may
proceed AM LOST AM LOSST Position unknown MAYDAY MAYDAY I am in distress
HIJACK HI-JACK I have been hijacked LAND
(Place name) LAAND
I request to land at (Place name) DESCEND DEE-SEND I require descent
Rules of the Air Chapter 7
Air Law 7-13
VMC Minima VMC Minima
VMC is determined by a required forward visibility from the flight deck (flight visibility) and required vertical and horizontal distances from cloud. As the reference for this section of the LOs is ICAO Annex 2, the VMC minima applicable to the RoA as defined in Annex 2 are stated in Annex 2; Chapter 3; and paragraph 3.9. These are graphically illustrated in table 3-1 which is reproduced below. The ICAO minima are different from those stated in JAR OPS-1 and those applied by the UK CAA. The major difference is in the VMC minima specified for class B airspace.
F F GG Airspace Airspace Class Class A, B, C, D & E A, B, C, D & E (Note 3) Above 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or above 300 m (1000 ft) above terrain, whichever is higher At and below 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or 300 m (1000 ft) above terrain, whichever is higher Distance Distance From Cloud From Cloud 1500 m horizontally 300 m (1000 ft) vertically
Clear of cloud and in sight of the surface Flight
Flight Visibility Visibility
8 km at and above 3050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL 5 km below 3050 m (10 000 ft) AMSLA (Note 1)
5 km (Note 2) Notes:
Notes:
1. When the height of the transition altitude is lower than 3050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, FL 100 should be used in lieu of 10 000 ft.
2. When the ATS authority prescribe:
a. Lower flight visibilities to 1500 m may be permitted for flights operating:
1) At speeds that, in the prevailing visibility, give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision, or
2) In circumstances in which the probability of encounters with other traffic would normally be low e.g. in areas of low volume traffic and for aerial work at low levels.
b. Helicopters may be permitted to operate in less than 1500 m flight visibility, if manoeuvred at a speed that gives adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision.
3. The inclusion of VMC minima for Class A airspace does not imply permitted VFR in Class A airspace.
Take-off and Landing Take-off and Landing
Except when a clearance is given from an ATCU, VFR flights cannot take-off or land at an aerodrome in a CTR, or enter an aerodrome traffic zone or traffic pattern when:
The ceiling is less than 1500 ft The visibility is less than 5 km
Night Night
ATS authorities may impose conditions, or proscribe VFR flights between sunset and sunrise.
Limits Limits
Unless authorized by the appropriate ATS authority, VFR flights are not operated above FL200 or at transonic and supersonic speeds.
Chapter 7 Rules of the Air
Minimum Heights Minimum Heights
Except when necessary for take-off and landing, or where permission has been granted from the appropriate authority, a VFR flight shall not be flown:
Over the congested areas of cities, towns or settlements, or over an open air assembly of persons, at a height less than 300 m (1000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m from the aircraft.
Elsewhere, at a height less than 150 m (500 ft) above the ground or water.
VFR Flight Levels VFR Flight Levels
Except where indicated in ATC clearances or specified by the appropriate ATS authority, VFR flights in level cruising flight when operated above 900 m (3000 ft) from the ground or water, or a higher datum as specified by the appropriate ATS authority, are to be conducted at a flight level appropriate to the magnetic track as specified in the table of cruising levels.
ATC Clearances ATC Clearances
VFR flights shall comply with the provisions laid out in ATC clearances when operated in Class B, C and D airspace, when forming part of aerodrome traffic at a controlled aerodrome, or when operated as special VFR flights.
Radio Watch Radio Watch
A VFR flight operating within ATS routes, or areas specified by the appropriate ATS authority, shall maintain a continuous listening watch on the appropriate radio frequency. The aircraft must report its position as necessary to the ATS unit providing the FIS.
Weather Deterioration below VMC Weather Deterioration below VMC
If it becomes evident that a controlled VFR flight will not remain in VMC, the pilot is to:
Request an amended clearance to continue to the destination aerodrome by another route remaining in VMC; or
Land at the nearest useable aerodrome; or If operating in a CTR, request a SVFR clearance; or File an IFR FPL.
VFR Flight Plan VFR Flight Plan
When a flight plan for a VFR flight is filed using the ICAO standard form, the flight rules to be observed are indicated in field 8 of the form. For VFR, the entry in field 8 is “V”. If it is intended that the flight will start under VFR and at some point change to IFR, the letter “Z” is entered in field 8.
Aide memoir : VFR requires good VIZ. V to I = Z. (VIZ)