Originally Posted by
IO540
The
visibility requirement is one thing. Under
VFR, a UK (or any JAA,
AFAIK) plain PPL can fly "VFR" down to 3000m. A non-JAA ICAO (e.g. FAA) PPL can potentially fly "VFR" down to 1500m. (The ICAO definition of VMC is 1500m). An IR or IMCR holder can fly "VFR" down to the ICAO VMC figure of 1500m.
There's little point in quoting these licence privilege minima, which apply outside controlled airspace, when SVFR is available only within controlled airspace. The minimum visibility for VFR within controlled airspace is 5000 m. Less than that, and it's SVFR or IFR.
Under SVFR, the plain PPL has to be 10000m+, unless he has an IR or IMCR in which case he has to be 3000m+. I don't know if the visibility is that observed by the pilot (in which case it is obviously unenforceable except in the most gross breach, like OVC002) or if they are as issued by ATC (in which case ATC should not issue an SVFR clearance if the met vis is below 3000m; ATC usually assume the pilot has the max privileges).
SVFR clearances are available to everyone, and are regularly used by ATPLs and IR holders who cannot or don't want to comply with IFR (e.g. if the aircraft isn't equipped for IFR). Thus ATC should issue SVFR clearances, where appropriate, in visibilities down to the SVFR minimum (usually 1500 m) without regard to any licence-priivilege legislation.
Dublinpilot - no PPL anywhere can fly sub VMC, under the ICAO definition of VMC of 1500m. I did say "VMC", not "VFR"
I don't believe that CAA or JAA have redefined VMC; what I think they have done is they have defined VFR as 3000m or whatever. Very confusing.
No VMC is defined as "weather permitting flight in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules". The definition goes hand in hand with the minima for VFR flight, as nationally defined. ICAO does not define VMC as 1500 m, or any other specific value. There are circumstances in which a UK PPL without IMCR/IR can fly in "sub VMC" conditions, as the licence-privilege limitation of 3000 m outside controlled airspace minimum vis differs from the VFR minimum, which can be 5000 m or higher. Such cases tend to be contrived, though.
The old CAA CPL (or the old CAA ATPL for that matter) gives you an honorary IMC Rating, which needs 1800m min vis for any VMC.
No, the UK CA CPL gives you the privileges of an IMC rating but does
not impose the 1800 m minimum visibility for take-off and landing, nor the 3000 m minimum for SVFR.