VFR weather minima
These minima set the least visibility and cloud clearance you may fly VFR in. They tighten in controlled airspace, ease off near the ground in uncontrolled airspace, and always tighten at night.
| Where | Vis | Distance from cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Controlled airspace | 3 SM | 500 ft vertical, 1 mile horizontal |
| Uncontrolled, ≥ 1,000 ft AGL, day | 1 SM | 500 ft vertical, 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Uncontrolled, ≥ 1,000 ft AGL, night | 3 SM | 500 ft vertical, 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Uncontrolled, < 1,000 ft AGL, day | 2 SM | clear of cloud |
| Uncontrolled, < 1,000 ft AGL, night | 3 SM | clear of cloud |
- Controlled airspace is always 3 SM (CAR 602.114), day or night.
- In uncontrolled airspace the visibility floor drops to 1 SM up high or 2 SM down low by day, but climbs to 3 SM at night (CAR 602.115).
- Special VFR in a control zone needs only 1 SM (½ SM for helicopters) and clear of cloud (CAR 602.117), but that is an ATC clearance, not a normal minimum.
Traps: the 1 vs 2 SM uncontrolled split (which side of 1,000 ft AGL), and forgetting that night forces 3 SM everywhere.
References
- CARs 602.114
- CARs 602.115
- CARs 602.117