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.

(*) 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.

SERA.5005 Visual flight rules

Regulation (EU) 2016/1185

(a) Except when operating as a special VFR flight, VFR flights shall be conducted so that the aircraft is flown in conditions of visibility and distance from clouds equal to or greater than those specified in Table S5-1.

(b) Except when a special VFR clearance is obtained from an air traffic control unit, VFR flights shall not 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:

(1) the ceiling is less than 450 m (1 500 ft); or

(2) the ground visibility is less than 5 km.

(c) When so prescribed by the competent authority, VFR flights at night may be permitted under the following conditions:

(1) if leaving the vicinity of an aerodrome, a flight plan shall be submitted in accordance with SERA.4001(b)(6);

(2) flights shall establish and maintain two-way radio communication on the appropriate ATS communication channel, when available;

(3) the VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima as specified in Table S5-1 shall apply except that:

(i) the ceiling shall not be less than 450 m (1 500 ft);

(ii) the reduced flight visibility provisions specified in Table S5-1(a) and (b) shall not apply;

(iii) in airspace classes B, C, D, E, F and G, at and below 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL or 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher, the pilot shall maintain continuous sight of the surface; and

(iv) [Deleted.]

(v) for mountainous area, higher VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima may be prescribed by the competent authority;

(4) [Deleted.]

(5) except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except when specifically authorised by the competent authority, a VFR flight at night shall be flown at a level which is not below the minimum flight altitude established by the State whose territory is overflown, or, where no such minimum flight altitude has been established:

(i) over high terrain or in mountainous areas, at a level which is at least 600 m (2 000 ft) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft;

(ii) elsewhere than as specified in i), at a level which is at least 300 m (1 000 ft) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft.

(d) VFR flights shall not be operated:

(1) at transonic and supersonic speeds unless authorised by the competent authority;

(2) above FL 195. Exceptions to this requirement are the following:

(i) an airspace reservation has been established, where practical, by the Member States, in which VFR flights may be allowed; or

(ii) airspace up to and including flight level 285, when VFR traffic in that airspace has been authorised by the responsible ATS unit in accordance with the authorisation procedures established by the Member States and published in the relevant aeronautical information publication.

(e) Authorisation for VFR flights to operate above FL 285 shall not be granted where a vertical separation minimum of 300 m (1 000 ft) is applied above FL 290.

(f) Except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except by permission from the competent authority, a VFR flight shall not be flown:

(1) over the congested areas of cities, towns or settlements or over an open-air assembly of persons at a height less than 300 m (1 000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m from the aircraft;

(2) elsewhere than as specified in (1), at a height less than 150 m (500 ft) above the ground or water, or 150 m (500 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 150 m (500 ft) from the aircraft.

(g) Except where otherwise indicated in air traffic control clearances or specified by the competent authority, VFR flights in level cruising flight when operated above 900 m (3000 ft) from the ground or water, or a higher datum as specified by the competent authority, shall be conducted at a cruising level appropriate to the track as specified in the table of cruising levels in Appendix 3.

(h) VFR flights shall comply with the provisions of Section 8:

(1) when operated within Classes B, C and D airspace;

(2) when forming part of aerodrome traffic at controlled aerodromes; or

(3) when operated as special VFR flights.

(i) A VFR flight operating within or into areas or along routes designated by the competent authority, in accordance with SERA.4001(b)(3) or (4), shall maintain continuous air-ground voice communication watch on the appropriate communication channel of, and report its position as necessary to, the air traffic services unit providing flight information service.

(j) An aircraft operated in accordance with the visual flight rules which wishes to change to compliance with the instrument flight rules shall:

(1) if a flight plan was submitted, communicate the necessary changes to be effected to its current flight plan; or

(2) as required by SERA.4001(b), submit a flight plan to the appropriate air traffic services unit as soon as practicable and obtain a clearance prior to proceeding IFR when in controlled airspace.

GM1 SERA.5005(c)(3)(iii)  Visual flight rules

ED Decision 2016/023/R

NIGHT VFR ON TOP

When flying in airspace classes B, C, D, E, F, or G, more than 900 m (3 000 ft) above mean sea level (MSL) or 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is higher, the pilot may elect to fly above a cloud layer (VFR on top). When making the decision on whether to fly above or below a cloud at night, consideration should be given at least but not limited to the following:

(a) The likelihood of weather at destination allowing a descent in visual conditions;

(b) Lighting conditions below and above the cloud layer;

(c) The likelihood of the cloud base descending, if flight below cloud is chosen, thus resulting in terrain clearance being lost;

(d) The possibility of flight above the cloud leading to flight between converging cloud layers;

(e) The possibility of successfully turning back and returning to an area where continuous sight of surface can be maintained; and

(f) The possibilities for the pilot to establish their location at any point of the route to be flown, taking into consideration also the terrain elevation and geographical and man-made obstacles.

AMC1 SERA.5005(f) Visual flight rules

ED Decision 2013/013/R

VFR MINIMUM HEIGHTS — PERMISSION FROM THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY

The competent authority should specify the conditions under which the permission is or may be granted, including the minimum heights above the terrain, water or the highest obstacle within a radius of 150 m (500 ft) from an aircraft practising forced landings, a balloon or an aircraft executing ridge or hill soaring.

GM1 SERA.5005(f) Visual flight rules

ED Decision 2013/013/R

VFR MINIMUM HEIGHTS — PERMISSION FROM THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY

Subject to an appropriate safety assessment, permission from the competent authority may also be granted for cases like:

(a) aircraft operating in accordance with the procedure promulgated for the notified route being flown;

(b) helicopters operating at a height that will permit, in the event of an emergency arising, a landing to be made without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface;

(c) aircraft picking up or dropping tow ropes, banners or similar articles at an aerodrome;

(d) any other flights not specified above, where specific exemption is required to accomplish a specific task.

SERA.5010 Special VFR in control zones

Regulation (EU) 2016/1185

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 fire-fighting flights, the following additional conditions shall be applied:

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

(b) by the pilot:

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

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

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

(c) 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:

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

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

GM1 SERA.5010  Special VFR in control zones

ED Decision 2016/023/R

The list of type of operations subject to permit by the competent authority to deviate from the requirements for special visual flight rules (VFR) flights is not exhaustive. The competent authority may grant a permit for other kind of helicopter operations such as power line inspections, helicopter hoist operations, etc.

GM1 SERA.5010(b)(2)  Special VFR in control zones

ED Decision 2016/023/R

When assessing the prevailing flight visibility, the pilots should use their best judgement. The assessment should be based, for example, on the pilot’s overall flight experience, knowledge of local conditions and procedures, visible landmarks, etc. Furthermore, the pilot should possess the latest weather observations and forecasts.

AMC1 SERA.5010(b)(3)  Special VFR in control zones

ED Decision 2016/023/R

SPEED LIMIT TO BE APPLIED BY HELICOPTER PILOTS

The 140 kt-speed should not be used by helicopters operating at a visibility below 1 500 m. In such case, a lower speed appropriate to the actual conditions should be applied by the pilot.

GM1 SERA.5010(b)(3) Special VFR in control zones

ED Decision 2013/013/R

SPEED LIMIT TO BE APPLIED BY HELICOPTER PILOTS

The 140 kt speed is to be considered as an absolute maximum acceptable speed in order to maintain an acceptable level of safety when the visibility is 1 500 m or more. Lower speeds should be applied according to elements such as local conditions, number and experience of pilots on board, using the guidance of the table below:

GM1 SERA.5010(c) Special VFR in control zones

ED Decision 2016/023/R

When the reported ground visibility at the aerodrome is less than 1 500 m, ATC may issue a special VFR clearance for a flight crossing the control zone and not intending to take off or land at an aerodrome within a control zone, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or aerodrome traffic circuit when the flight visibility reported by the pilot is not less than 1 500 m, or, for helicopters, not less than 800 m.

SERA.5015 Instrument flight rules (IFR) — Rules applicable to all IFR  flights

Regulation (EU) 2016/1185

(a) Aircraft equipment

Aircraft shall be equipped with suitable instruments and with navigation equipment appropriate to the route to be flown and in accordance with the applicable air operations legislation.

(b) Minimum levels

Except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except when specifically authorised by the competent authority, an IFR flight shall be flown at a level which is not below the minimum flight altitude established by the State whose territory is overflown, or, where no such minimum flight altitude has been established:

(1) over high terrain or in mountainous areas, at a level which is at least 600 m (2 000 ft) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft;

(2) elsewhere than as specified in (1), at a level which is at least 300 m (1 000 ft) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft.

(c) Change from IFR flight to VFR flight

(1) An aircraft electing to change the conduct of its flight from compliance with the instrument flight rules to compliance with the visual flight rules shall notify the appropriate air traffic services unit specifically that the IFR flight is cancelled and communicate thereto the changes to be made to its current flight plan.

(2) When an aircraft operating under the instrument flight rules is flown in or encounters visual meteorological conditions it shall not cancel its IFR flight unless it is anticipated, and intended, that the flight will be continued for a reasonable period of time in uninterrupted visual meteorological conditions.

(3) Change from IFR flight to VFR flight shall only be acceptable when a message initiated by the pilot-in-command containing the specific expression ‘CANCELLING MY IFR FLIGHT’, together with the changes, if any, to be made to the current flight plan, is received by an ATS unit. No invitation to change from IFR flight to VFR flight shall be made by ATS either directly or by inference.

GM1 SERA.5015(b) Instrument flight rules (IFR) — Rules applicable to all IFR flights

ED Decision 2013/013/R

MINIMUM LEVELS

When determining which are the highest obstacles within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft, the estimate will take account of the navigational accuracy which can be achieved on the relevant route segment, having regard to the navigational facilities available on the ground and in the aircraft.

GM1 SERA.5015(c)(3) Instrument flight rules (IFR) — Rules applicable to all IFR flights

ED Decision 2016/023/R

No reply, other than the acknowledgment ‘IFR FLIGHT CANCELLED AT ... (time)’, should normally be made by an ATS unit.

SERA.5020 IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights within controlled airspace

Regulation (EU) No 923/2012

(a) IFR flights shall comply with the provisions of Section 8 when operated in controlled airspace.

(b) An IFR flight operating in cruising flight in controlled airspace shall be flown at a cruising level, or, if authorised by ATS unit to employ cruise climb techniques, between two levels or above a level, selected from the table of cruising levels in Appendix 3, except that the correlation of levels to track prescribed therein shall not apply whenever otherwise indicated in air traffic control clearances or specified by the competent authority in aeronautical information publications.

SERA.5025 IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace

Regulation (EU) No 923/2012

(a) Cruising levels

An IFR flight operating in level cruising flight outside of controlled airspace shall be flown at a cruising level appropriate to its track as specified in the table of cruising levels in Appendix 3, except when otherwise specified by the competent authority for flight at or below 900 m (3 000 ft) above mean sea level.

(b) Communications

An IFR flight operating outside controlled airspace but within or into areas, or along routes, designated by the competent authority in accordance with SERA.4001(b)(3) or (4) shall maintain an air-ground voice communication watch on the appropriate communication channel and establish two-way communication, as necessary, with the air traffic services unit providing flight information service.

(c) Position reports

An IFR flight operating outside controlled airspace and required by the competent authority to maintain an air-ground voice communication watch on the appropriate communication channel and establish two-way communication, as necessary, with the air traffic services unit providing flight information service, shall report position, as specified in SERA.8025 for controlled flights.

GM1 SERA.5025(a) IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace

ED Decision 2013/013/R

CRUISING LEVELS

Although an IFR flight operating in level cruising flight outside controlled airspace is to be flown at a cruising level appropriate to its track, as specified in the table of cruising levels, this does not preclude the use of cruise climb techniques.

GM1 SERA.5025(c) IFR — Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace

ED Decision 2013/013/R

POSITION REPORTS

Aircraft electing to use the air traffic advisory service whilst operating under IFR within specified advisory airspace are expected to comply with the provisions of ‘Section 8 — Air traffic Control Service’, except that the flight plan and changes thereto are not subject to clearances and that two-way communication will be maintained with the unit providing the air traffic advisory service.