Remain VFR or request IFR/SVFR?
 

Good day, aviators.

Situation: I filed a VFR flight plan with the letters V, H, F, and G in the equipment field (VHF, HF, ADF and GPS). Upon approaching controlled aerodrome I encounter weather. ATIS is giving BKN cloud below VFR minima. Aircraft is equipped for IMC flight, but lacks VOR NAV equipment. I used VORs as turning points in the flight plan.

Question nr1: can i request the ATC to transition to IFR?

As per EASA CAT.GEN.MPA180, the helicopter is IMC-equipped, but has no navigational equipment. If i dont mentioned IFR NAV equipment in the field, is the controller legally able to clear me to transition to IFR?

Question nr2: should I request SVFR clearance? As per definition, SVFR weather does not allow to enter aerodrome traffic zone, which is a circle of 2.5nm radius/2000ft centered on the aerodrome (UK CAP definition). If my intention is not to land on that aerodrome but to transit its CTR, will the tower still accept my VFR flight complying I remain VFR at all times while in CTR?

Does ICAO differ from EASA in this regard?

Thank you!

Answer 1:
When you state 'controlled aerodrome', do you mean an aerodrome inside CAS ? If you do, under SERA, you will have obtained an ATC clearance for a VFR transit of CAS. If then you bump into weather, you can ask for an IFR clearance. In practice in the UK, ATC are unlikely to police the clearance they issue on the basis of what you have writted on your FPL. If you take an IFR clearance, you can also transit the ATZ. However, ATC are unable, under SERA, to issue clearances into or out of or through the ATZ (within CAS) unless the METAR for that airfield will permit them to issue an appropriate clearance, i.e. if the METAR doesn't permit VFR ATC are not allowed to issue a VFR clearance. Outside the ATZ (inside CAS) you can self declare VFR (based on your in-flight minima) inside CAS, and ATC have to assume that your are complying.

Answer 2:
If you request a SVFR clearance, and the METAR will support SVFR flight, ATC can give you a SVFR transit of the ATZ. You can only enter the ATZ on a clearance that is compliant with the METAR in that ATZ, so if the weather is bad, you must fly IFR, if it will support SVFR, you can fly IFR or SVFR, and if the METAR supports VFR, you can fly IFR, SVFR, or VFR through the ATZ.

Under SERA, there is a big difference between CAS and the ATZ inside it. You can request whichever clearance you like inside CAS but outside the ATZ, but to enter, leave or transit the ATZ, your clearance options will be based on the METAR within it.

HB

thers a lot you don't mention here. Do you have a heli IR? have you met the currency requirements? is the heli certified for Instrument Flight? is your /G on the flightplan an IFR approved GPS with the necessary paperwork? and in which country are you asking about? do you have the necessary approach plate available when they give you a clearance? is the weather above minima for the approach? what are you going to do when you can't get in?

in short - can you legally accept an IFR clearance? but forget "can I ask for " - you are PIC, you can ask for whatever you need. And, most likely the controller doesn't havea copy of yoru flight plan in front of fthem and couldn't care less what equipment you filed on it.

to HershamBoys
Thank you for the answer. As i understand, in the UK you have a definition for ATZ. In Latvia, for example, we dont have an official ATZ established around the airport. It is not mentioned anywhere in the AIP. Thus the confusion. Do i need to request SVFR clearance to enter CTR, or as per official SVFR definition, only to enter ATZ? Thank you. Will read my local AIP more carefully

To custardpsc
Thank you for the answer. Yes, I am IFR current. The heli is IMC current, but lacks the IFR NAV equipment, which i mentioned in the flightplan. Letter G is not certified handheld GPS. As I understand i am legally not allowed to write that in the flight plan since it is not certified.

So, when you are approaching the CTR, you can ask for whatever clearance you like, based on your flight rules and the weather conditions in which you are flying. The emphasis is on you to fly in accordance with your qualifications, the equipment, and the weather conditions. If the weather is CAVOK, ask for a VFR clearance. If the weather is bad, ask for IFR. if it is marginal VFR, you could ask for SVFR, but this will increase ATC workload, because ATC must separate you from IFR and SVFR traffic while ensuring that you can remain clear of cloud and in sight of the surface. So...you have entered the CTR on an appropriate clearance, and you now wish to transit the ATZ. The focus changes from what you want to what the controller is permitted to issue. So, if it is 300 metres visibility and BKN000 the controller cannot issue a VFR or SVFR clearance to transit the ATZ, only an IFR clearance. Once you are outside the ATZ, but still inside the CTR, if you assess that the weather will permit VFR or SVFR flight, you can request a change of clearance.

HB