Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Special visual flight rules (also special VFR or SVFR) are a set of aviation regulations under which a pilot may operate an aircraft. It is a special case of operating under visual flight rules (VFR).
VFR requires a pilot to be able to see outside the cockpit to control the aircraft's altitude, navigate, and avoid obstacles and other aircraft. [3] Governing agencies establish specific requirements for VFR flight, including minimum visibility, and distance from clouds, to ensure that aircraft operating under VFR are visible from enough distance to ensure safety.
Air traffic control may also issue a "special VFR" clearance to VFR aircraft, to allow departure from a control zone in less than VMC – this reduces the visibility minimum to 1,600 m. Generally, VMC requires greater visibility and cloud clearance in controlled airspace than in uncontrolled airspace .
The "night" restriction on Special VFR clearances, namely that the pilot and aircraft are rated and equipped for IFR, applies from sunset to sunrise, see AIM 4-4-6(g). Position lights are required from sunset to sunrise (see FAR 91.209 and AIM 4-3-23). [9]
Hudson and East River VFR corridor note on New York terminal area chart as of 2007. The East River Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA), formally known as the East River class-B exclusion, is a section of airspace above the East River in New York City in which flight is permitted under visual flight rules (VFR).
Also possible in many countries is "Special VFR" flight, where an aircraft is explicitly granted permission to operate VFR within the controlled airspace of an airport in conditions technically less than VMC; the pilot asserts they have the necessary visibility to fly despite the weather, must stay in contact with ATC, and cannot leave ...
In general, when an airport is officially IFR (normally because of reduced visibility or low cloud ceiling), only IFR or Special VFR operations are allowed. [7] Reid then requested and received from the control tower a Special VFR clearance to allow him to exit the airport's control zone visually, despite the reduced visibility. [1]: 4
VFR over-the-top is different from VFR-on-top, in that VFR-on-top is an IFR clearance that allows the pilot to fly VFR altitudes, while VFR over-the-top is strictly a VFR operation in which the pilot maintains VFR cloud clearance requirements while operating on top of an undercast layer. [2]