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Can a VFR pilot fly above the clouds?
“The short answer is yes. You may legally fly on top as long as you can maintain the appropriate VFR cloud clearances. The only regulatory restriction is that student pilots are not allowed to fly above a cloud layer without ground reference.
How high do clouds have to be to fly VFR?
VFR Cloud Conditions Below 10,000 ft MSL, VFR flight must be at least 500 ft below clouds or 1,000 ft above clouds, and horizontally must be at least 2,000 ft away from clouds.
How do you get a VFR over the top?
To fly VFR on top, you must be an instrument-rated pilot on an instrument flight plan and request a VFR-on-top clearance. (To complicate matters, this is sometimes called IFR over the top.) This allows you to climb through clouds to VFR weather above them.
What is the difference between a VFR-on-top and VFR over the top clearance?
It’s easy confuse “VFR-on-top” with “VFR over-the-top.” A VFR on-top clearance is an IFR clearance that allows pilots to fly at VFR altitudes. VFR over-the-top, on the other hand, is an operation where you maintains VFR cloud clearance requirements while operating on top of an overcast layer.
How do I get a VFR clearance?
As a pilot performing a VFR flight and departing from a controlled airfield, you must contact the ATC before taxi in order to have the initial VFR clearance. You will obtain this clearance from a ground or tower controller. In other airports, you may ask the approach controller to obtain your clearance.
What is the highest VFR altitude?
Except for take-off, landing or by emission from the appropriate authority, VFR flights shall be flown: At a height not less than 300m (1 000ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m from the aircraft over the congested areas of cities, towns or settlements or over an open-air assembly of persons.
Can student pilots carry passengers or cargo?
A student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft: That is carrying a passenger. In a manner contrary to any limitations placed in the pilot’s logbook by an authorized instructor.
Can a student pilot fly VFR Over the top?
The only regulatory restriction is that student pilots are not allowed to fly above a cloud layer without ground reference. VFR over-the-top can be a very useful tool to get above a cloud layer instead of flying in haze or restricted visibility below the clouds. But remember that you have to come back down at some point.
What is the difference between VFR Over-the-top and VfR at low altitudes?
It allows the pilot to change altitudes, provided VFR cloud clearances are maintained. VFR over-the-top, on the other hand, does not require an instrument rating or any kind of clearance or flight plan. The only regulatory restriction is that student pilots are not allowed to fly above a cloud layer without ground reference.
How do VFR pilots deal with clouds during daylight flights?
There are two ways in which a VFR pilot typically copes with clouds during a daylight flight. One is deciding on an altitude to fly so that you will avoid the clouds you meet. The other is deciding whether the appearance of clouds along your route suggests that continued visual flight won’t be possible.
How much visibility do you need to fly VFR?
I say “basic” because, under certain conditions (in Class G airspace during the day, for instance), you only need one mile of visibility to operate under VFR. But if you’re flying above 10,000 feet msl, you need five (not three) statute miles visibility to be able to fly VFR.