ATS.TR.270 Authorisation of special VFR

(a)     Special VFR flights may be authorised to operate within a control zone, subject to an ATC clearance. Except when permitted by the competent authority for helicopters in special cases such as but not limited to police, medical, search and rescue operations and firefighting flights, the following additional conditions shall be applied:

[applicable until 30 April 2025 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/469]

Special VFR flights may be authorised to operate within a control zone, subject to an ATC clearance. Except when otherwise permitted by the competent authority for helicopters in special cases such as, but not limited to, police, medical, search and rescue operations and firefighting flights, the following additional conditions shall apply:

[applicable from 1 May 2025 - Regulation (EU) 2024/403]

(1)     such special VFR flights may be conducted during day only, unless otherwise permitted by the competent authority;

(2)     by the pilot:

(i)      clear of cloud and with the surface in sight;

(ii)     the flight visibility is not less than 1 500 m or, for helicopters, not less than 800 m;

(iii)     fly at a speed of 140 kt IAS or less to give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic and any obstacles in time to avoid a collision;

(3)     An air traffic control unit shall not issue a special VFR clearance to aircraft to take off or land at an aerodrome within a control zone, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or aerodrome traffic circuit when the reported meteorological conditions at that aerodrome are below the following minima:

(i)      the ground visibility is less than 1 500 m or, for helicopters, less than 800 m;

(ii)     the ceiling is less than 180 m (600 ft).

[applicable until 30 April 2025 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/469]

3)       An air traffic control unit shall not issue a special VFR clearance to aircraft to take off or land at an aerodrome within a control zone, or enter the aerodrome traffic circuit within a control zone, when the reported meteorological conditions at that aerodrome are below the following minima:

(i)      the ground visibility is less than 1 500m or, for helicopters, less than 800 m;

(ii)     the ceiling is less than 180 m (600 ft).

[applicable from 1 May 2025 - Regulation (EU) 2024/403]

(b)     An air traffic control unit shall handle requests for such an authorisation individually.