2.5 Flight Rules

See also VAIP ENR 1.1

VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR)

2.5.4 A VFR flight shall be conducted so that the aircraft is flown:-

  1. with visual reference to the surface by day and to identifiable objects by night and at no time above more than scattered cloud within a radius of 5nm of the aircraft in flight; and
  2. in conditions of visibility and distance from cloud equal to or greater than those specified in the division’s pilot procedures.

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC)

2.5.5 When an aircraft is flying in meteorological conditions equal to or greater than that specified above, the aircraft is said to be in VMC.

Note: A VFR flight must always be conducted in VMC.

INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC)

2.5.6 When an aircraft is flying in meteorological conditions less than those above, the aircraft is said to be in IMC.

2.5.7 VFR Flight is not permitted above FL145.

2.5.8 VFR flights may be granted Special VFR clearances within a CTR in terms of 2.5.12 of this chapter, in which case they are absolved from observing the weather minima for controlled airspace whilst operating in the CTR on such clearances.

2.5.9 Unless authorised by ATC on a SVFR clearance no VFR flight shall take off from, land at, or approach to land at an aerodrome within a CTR or fly within the CTR when the ground visibility is less than 5000m and/or the ceiling is less than 1500ft.

2.5.10 When an aircraft maintains two-way radio communications with the control tower, that aircraft may, in respect of a cross-country flight, leave an ATZ (which does not comprise a CTR or part of a CTR) when the ground visibility is equal to or greater than 5km and the ceiling equal to or higher than 500ft.

2.5.11 Outside a CTR or ATZ it is the responsibility of the pilot-in-command to decide whether conditions permit flight in accordance with the VFR.

SPECIAL VFR (SVFR)

2.5.12 A SVFR flight is a flight subject to prior authorisation of ATC but not subject to IFR and conducted by day, within a CTR within which compliance with IFR has been declared mandatory.

2.5.13 The minimum weather conditions under which the ATC may grant special VFR clearances are:

  1. within sight of ground; and
  2. clear of cloud; and
  3. ground visibility of not less than 1500m

2.5.14 Standard separation shall be provided between all SVFR flights and between SVFR flights and aircraft operating under IFR.

2.5.15 A Special VFR clearance shall be obtained from the ATSU responsible for the TMA adjacent to the CTR.

2.5.16 IFR flights must not be delayed in order to accommodate requests for a SVFR clearance.

2.5.17 Aircraft operating Special VFR within a CTR when the zone has been declared IMC will not normally be given a specific level to fly; they will merely be instructed to remain clear of cloud and within sight of ground. If, however, it is necessary to provide vertical separation from aircraft above, the Special VFR aircraft is to be instructed not to fly above a specified level.

E.g. “ZSABC, Cleared ………………… (route) ………………..SVFR, clear of cloud, in sight of ground, not above …………feet”.

2.5.18 SVFR flights are intended to provide flexibility to VFR flights who are unable to comply with IFR.

2.5.19 SVFR absolves the pilot-in-command from complying with the IFR, however, it does not absolve him from his responsibility of maintaining the minimum safe altitude.

INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR)

2.5.20 Aircraft may be flown in accordance with IFR irrespective of the meteorological conditions, but all aircraft flying above FL145 must comply with the IFR.