What are the VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima for flights at and above 10,000 feet AMSL in Class E airspace?

For flights at and above 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL in Class E airspace, the VMC minima are: flight visibility 8 km, distance from cloud 1 500 m horizontally and 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically.

In which airspace classes and altitude band does the VMC minimum require a flight visibility of 5 km and a distance from cloud of 1 500 m horizontally and 300 m vertically?

This applies in airspace classes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL and above 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or above 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher.

For VFR flights in Class F or G airspace at or below 3,000 feet AMSL or 1,000 feet above terrain, what are the required VMC minima?

In Class F and G airspace at and below 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher, the VMC minima are: flight visibility 5 km, clear of cloud and with the surface in sight.

In the VMC minima table, what is the horizontal distance from cloud for flights at and above 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL in Class G airspace?

The horizontal distance from cloud is 1 500 m for flights at and above 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL in Class G airspace.

For the altitude band below 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL and above 900 m (3,000 ft) AMSL, what is the vertical distance from cloud required in all airspace classes?

The vertical distance from cloud required is 300 m (1 000 ft) in all airspace classes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) for that altitude band.

What are the VMC minima for Class D airspace at and below 900 m (3,000 ft) AMSL or 300 m (1,000 ft) above terrain, whichever is higher?

For Class D airspace at and below 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher, the VMC minima are: flight visibility 5 km, distance from cloud 1 500 m horizontally and 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically.

What is the flight visibility requirement for Class F airspace at and above 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL?

The flight visibility requirement for Class F airspace at and above 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL is 8 km.

For flights in Class E airspace below 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL and above 900 m (3,000 ft) AMSL, what is the required distance from cloud?

The required distance from cloud is 1 500 m horizontally and 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically.

In the altitude band at and below 900 m (3,000 ft) AMSL or 300 m (1,000 ft) above terrain, what is the difference in VMC minima between Class E and Class G airspace?

In Class E airspace, the minima are 5 km flight visibility and distance from cloud of 1 500 m horizontally and 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically. In Class G airspace, the minima are 5 km flight visibility, clear of cloud and with the surface in sight.

What is the maximum speed for a flight to be eligible for a reduced visibility of not less than 1,500 m under the competent authority's prescription?

The maximum speed is 140 kts IAS or less.

For the altitude band below 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL and above 900 m (3,000 ft) AMSL, what is the flight visibility in Class A airspace?

The flight visibility in Class A airspace for that altitude band is 5 km.

What is the vertical distance from cloud for flights at and below 900 m (3,000 ft) AMSL in Class B airspace?

The vertical distance from cloud is 300 m (1 000 ft) for flights in Class B airspace at and below 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL.

What is the flight visibility minimum for Class C airspace at and above 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL?

The flight visibility minimum for Class C airspace at and above 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL is 8 km.

What is the minimum flight visibility for helicopters in Class F or G airspace at or below 3,000 ft AMSL when the competent authority has prescribed a reduction?

The minimum flight visibility for helicopters is 800 m, provided they are manoeuvred at a speed that gives adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision.

In the VMC minima table, what is the horizontal distance from cloud for flights in Class F airspace below 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL and above 900 m (3,000 ft) AMSL?

The horizontal distance from cloud is 1 500 m for flights in Class F airspace in that altitude band.

SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima

Q: Are VFR flights permitted in Class A airspace based on the VMC minima table?

No. The VMC minima in Class A airspace are included for guidance to pilots and do not imply acceptance of VFR flights in Class A airspace.

Q: Under what conditions may the competent authority prescribe a reduction of flight visibility to not less than 1,500 m for flights in Class F or G airspace at or below 3,000 ft AMSL?

The competent authority may prescribe reduced flight visibility to not less than 1 500 m for flights operating at speeds of 140 kts IAS or less to give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision, or in circumstances where 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.

Q: What is the minimum flight visibility permitted for helicopters in Class F or G airspace at or below 3,000 ft AMSL when prescribed by the competent authority, and what condition applies?

Helicopters may be permitted to operate in less than 1 500 m but not less than 800 m flight visibility, if manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision.

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SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima

Regulation (EU) 2016/1185

VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima are contained in Table S5-1.

*Table S5-1 ^()**
Altitude band	Airspace class	Flight visibility	Distance from cloud
At and above 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL	A ^(**) B C D E F G	8 km	1 500 m horizontally 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically
Below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL and above 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or above 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher	A ^(**) B C D E F G	5 km	1500 m horizontally 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically
At and below 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher	A ^(**) B C D E	5 km	1500 m horizontally 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically
	F G	5 km ^(***)	Clear of cloud and with the surface in sight

^(*) When the height of the transition altitude is lower than 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, FL 100 shall be used in lieu of 10 000 ft.

^(**) The VMC minima in Class A airspace are included for guidance to pilots and do not imply acceptance of VFR flights in Class A airspace.

^(***) When so prescribed by the competent authority:

(a) flight visibilities reduced to not less than 1 500 m may be permitted for flights operating:

(1) at speeds of 140 kts IAS or less to 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 1 500 m but not less than 800 m flight visibility, if manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision.

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Source-Title: SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima View latest amendments

Erulesid: ERULES-1963177438-9907 Compare versions

Domain: Air operations, Air traffic management/Air navigation services

Activitytype: Air operations, Air traffic control services (ATC), Flight information services (FIS)

Applicabilitydate: 12 October, 2017

Entryintoforcedate: 10 August, 2016

Icaoreference: Annex 2

Regulatedentity: Flight crew, Competent authority

Regulatorysource: Regulation (EU) 2016/1185 Navigate

Regulatorysubject: Annex-Section 5: VMC, VFR, special VFR, IFR

Typeofcontent: IR (Implementing rule)

Origin: EASA

Category: EAR

SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima

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