Pushing my luck - C.I SVFR / Night / Viz
 

Guys

Just a quick one - I want to make sure I am "legal" in the respect of a SVFR flight, at night in the Channel Islands Class A airspace.

By definition, there is no VFR at night in the UK and no VFR allowed in Class A. Period.

So to fly through CTA (D) at night in the UK I either need to have an IR or IMCr to fly IFR, or accept a SVFR clearance. SVFR being in sight of land / clear of cloud and with 10km viz - my IMCr reduces this to 3km viz but still in sight of the ground. Within the UK and CTA (D) I can fly IFR thanks to my IMCr.

Now - I have flown to Jersey many a times now, mostly IFR to the zone boundary and been given a clearance not above 3000ft SVFR at ORIST.
A lot of the time, I've had to descend to 1500ft to keep visual with the sea (!) which is never much fun but that is a limitation imposed on me by not having an IR.

My question is: can I fly SVFR at night in Class A - and if so, my IMCr still allows me to fly down to 3km viz?

I am not saying I would be awfully happy flying in at 3km viz, over the sea, at night - but from a legality perspective - is my understanding correct?

Thanks all - brain fart here :d

Lee

I think you gave the answer yourself.

You need to depart IFR at night, regardless of the class of airspace. You don't need an IR or IMC rating to do this (but obviously a night rating).

The trick is the airspace, as C.I. has decided to be Class A for some reason (I'd like to know the reason actually). Unless you have a full IR, you can't legally accept an IFR departure in Class A, regardless of CAVOK.

mmgreve, No you do not need to depart/arrive/transit IFR in Class A airspace provided that it is a Control Zone. It is acceptable to depart/arrive/transit SVFR.

svfr
 

SVFR is allowed in a control Zone / Class A. The limiting factor for SVFR in control zone is the fact a clearance won't be issued with vis <1800m or ceiling <600ft

Other than that its - clear of cloud and in sight of surface plus
"The pilot must at all times remain in flight conditions which enable him to determine his flight path and keep clear of obstacles; "

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/64/VFR_Guide_2011.pdf p20 SVFR

CI airspace has different SVFR wx limits. ATC will only issue SVFR day or night if vis is 3000m or more and/or cloud base is 600ft or greater.

Thanks all :)

I can depart IFR as it is Class D around the airport, but Class A outside.
But that's irrelevant - I would be departing SVFR on the way back anyway :)