Special VFR



Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,458
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From: Wildest Surrey
TDM re your question in 29: All UK airspace from FL195 to FL245 becomes class C wef 15 Mar; that includes airspace presently classed A, D, F & G. it would seem logical to change the Heathrow & City Zones at the same time; nah maybe it's too logical.
NB There'll be TRA's in it for the military to use, TRA now being 'Temporary Reserved Area' not 'Temporary Restricted Airspace'.
NB There'll be TRA's in it for the military to use, TRA now being 'Temporary Reserved Area' not 'Temporary Restricted Airspace'.

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Aberdeen, UK
Errrrm - I'll have a bash for the sake of completeness....
If Im flying at night in Class D, I'm in IMC cos it's dark, but as I can't fly under IFR in IMC, I need to fly under SVFR
Simple
Unless I've got that wrong in which case I'm back to square one!
If Im flying at night in Class D, I'm in IMC cos it's dark, but as I can't fly under IFR in IMC, I need to fly under SVFR

Simple
Unless I've got that wrong in which case I'm back to square one!

Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 162
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From: Box Hill or Bust
But a plain PPL can fly SVFR in Control Zone, if the route or ATZ has been notified for the purposes of Schedule 8. Most Class D Control Zones in the UK will have published Special VFR rotes or lanes that allow flight by a basic PPL down to a vis of 3km, which is the legal limit outside controlled airspace.
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,212
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From: Anywhere
I went flying the other night. 25km vis, cloud FEW 4000ft. Was I IMC?
NO!
I was VMC at night.The weather minima for VMC don't change because the sun goes down.

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 526
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From: Aberdeen, UK
Ahhhh ok.
I was getting confused thinking that after dark VMC would not apply, but obviously as long as the conditions are met, it's VMC Night rather than IFR. I was just wondering as I was specifically told by ATC that I was still VFR and was wondering what they'd say 15 mins later after official night.
I was getting confused thinking that after dark VMC would not apply, but obviously as long as the conditions are met, it's VMC Night rather than IFR. I was just wondering as I was specifically told by ATC that I was still VFR and was wondering what they'd say 15 mins later after official night.
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,212
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From: Anywhere
Slopey - just to clarify
VMC & IMC - flight CONDITIONS
VFR, IFR & SVFR - flight RULES
For non IR/IMC holders with a Night rating or Qualification:
At night, you must fly in accordance with the instrument flight RULES, (If you don't know them - go read them - Rules 29 to 31 of the Rules of the Air portion of the ANO) but should fly maintaining Visual Meteorological CONDITIONS (as per your licence privileges) if you are outside Controlled Airspace.
If you wish to enter, or leave, a Control Zone, you must have a valid IR/IMC rating to fly in accordance with IFR. As you haven't got that, you enter, or leave, flying in accordance with a SVFR clearance which will still require you to remain, effectively, in Visual Meteorological Conditions, following the terms of the clearance as issued.
VMC & IMC - flight CONDITIONS
VFR, IFR & SVFR - flight RULES
For non IR/IMC holders with a Night rating or Qualification:
At night, you must fly in accordance with the instrument flight RULES, (If you don't know them - go read them - Rules 29 to 31 of the Rules of the Air portion of the ANO) but should fly maintaining Visual Meteorological CONDITIONS (as per your licence privileges) if you are outside Controlled Airspace.
If you wish to enter, or leave, a Control Zone, you must have a valid IR/IMC rating to fly in accordance with IFR. As you haven't got that, you enter, or leave, flying in accordance with a SVFR clearance which will still require you to remain, effectively, in Visual Meteorological Conditions, following the terms of the clearance as issued.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Dreamland
But a plain PPL can fly SVFR in Control Zone, if the route or ATZ has been notified for the purposes of Schedule 8. Most Class D Control Zones in the UK will have published Special VFR rotes or lanes that allow flight by a basic PPL down to a vis of 3km, which is the legal limit outside controlled airspace.
However, in the UK there are 31 Class D CTRs (UK AIP ENR 1-4-5). 11 are notified for schedule 8, 20 are not.

Joined: Jan 2004
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