French low-level military routes
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: London, England
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bluskis has mentioned a good point about clouds - if (for example) the upper limit of one of these restricted corridors is 2700ASFC and the terrain is up to 2000MSL (not unusual in eastern France) then you need to be at 4700MSL to be clear. To comply with VFR cruising levels on an westerly course means a level of 6500MSL. In my experience this would require a nearly cloud-free day to remain VFR.
Do pilots in France not fly in these areas when there are clouds around, or do you have to plan a route that means that you will be below cloud most of the time, typically 3500MSL or less.
Do pilots in France not fly in these areas when there are clouds around, or do you have to plan a route that means that you will be below cloud most of the time, typically 3500MSL or less.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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PhilD
You are raising a very good question.
It can sometimes seem that obeying all of the rules will make VFR flight impossible, and I do not think that this is the intention.
The semicircular+500 rule for VFR cruising is intended for flights that are established on a track for a reasonable period of time. Where a temporary deviation is required to overcome a danger area or corridor, the requirement to cruise at a specific level is perhaps a little softer.
It is enough to ensure that you maintain a good lookout during your climb and descent over the corridors, which are very narrow after all.
If you cannot one day climb over the corridor and mantain VMC, then you cannot. VFR are VFR and there will be occasions when a particular route is not available to you because of the weather.
TvR
You are raising a very good question.
It can sometimes seem that obeying all of the rules will make VFR flight impossible, and I do not think that this is the intention.
The semicircular+500 rule for VFR cruising is intended for flights that are established on a track for a reasonable period of time. Where a temporary deviation is required to overcome a danger area or corridor, the requirement to cruise at a specific level is perhaps a little softer.
It is enough to ensure that you maintain a good lookout during your climb and descent over the corridors, which are very narrow after all.
If you cannot one day climb over the corridor and mantain VMC, then you cannot. VFR are VFR and there will be occasions when a particular route is not available to you because of the weather.
TvR
