VFR over-the-top

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VFR over-the-top (OTT) refers to flying over top of clouds in visual flight, rather than with reference to instruments. This is usually done for brief amount of time to avoid weather or turbulence. [1]

Contents

Regulations

Each nation has specific and often different rules that govern when a pilot is permitted to fly VFR OTT. Most countries have requirements that specify weather minima, aircraft equipment and pilot qualifications. [1]

In some countries pilots are required to get an air traffic control (ATC) clearance, or in absence of a controller, advise the nearest flight service station or center.

Pilots are required to adhere to VFR minima when climbing and descending over the clouds. Flight in cloud is not permitted. [1]

National differences

The rules for flying VFR OTT vary greatly from country to country. Some rules, such as those contained in the US Federal Aviation Regulations, are less restrictive. [2] Others, such as the Canadian VFR OTT regulations contained in the Canadian Aviation Regulations, have more regulations to comply with. [1]

United States

The US rules require the aircraft to be fitted with the instruments required for IFR flight, [3] and student pilots [4] and sport pilots [5] must maintain visual reference with the surface. Other operations (such as commercial, turbine powered, and fractional ownership) include special limitations. (Note that 14 CFR 91.507 applies only to fractional operations; see 91.501.)

Canada

The Canadian rules specify that an aircraft may be operated in VFR OTT flight during the cruise portion of the flight during the day, at a vertical distance from clouds of at least 1000 feet. When the aircraft is operated between two cloud layers, the vertical distance between the layers must be at least 5000 feet. The flight visibility at the cruising altitude of the aircraft must be at least 5 miles and the weather at the destination aerodrome must be forecast to have a sky condition of scattered cloud or better, a ground visibility of 5 miles or greater with no forecast of precipitation, fog, thunderstorm or blowing snow, and that these conditions must be forecast to exist for one hour before to two hours after the estimated time of arrival when a terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF) is available or from one hour before to three hours after the estimated time of arrival if a TAF is not available. [1]

The VFR OTT rating requires ground training and a minimum of 15 hours of instrument training, 5 of those can be in a simulator. Commercial pilots automatically receive the OTT rating.[ citation needed ]

Germany

In Germany VFR OTT (Flüge nach Sichtflugregeln über Wolkendecken) is allowed and regulated in §32 LuftVO. [6] The requirements are:

  1. minimum height of 1,000 ft (305 m) above ground or water, minimum weather requirements for airspace E met
  2. pilot is capable of keeping the planned course
  3. approach and landing at destination in visual meteorological conditions (VMC)
  4. pilot possesses radiotelephony license

Additionally the aircraft must be equipped with a VOR receiver or basic RNAV equipment. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

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In aviation, visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going. Specifically, the weather must be better than basic VFR weather minima, i.e. in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), as specified in the rules of the relevant aviation authority. The pilot must be able to operate the aircraft with visual reference to the ground, and by visually avoiding obstructions and other aircraft.

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Air navigation Method used in air traffic control

The basic principles of air navigation are identical to general navigation, which includes the process of planning, recording, and controlling the movement of a craft from one place to another.

Visual meteorological conditions

In aviation, visual meteorological conditions (VMC) is an aviation flight category in which visual flight rules (VFR) flight is permitted—that is, conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft. They are the opposite of instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The boundary criteria between IMC and VMC are known as the VMC minima and are defined by: visibility, cloud ceilings, and cloud clearances.

Instrument rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR). It requires specific training and instruction beyond what is required for a private pilot certificate or commercial pilot certificate, including rules and procedures specific to instrument flying, additional instruction in meteorology, and more intensive training in flight solely by reference to instruments.

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Instrument meteorological conditions Flight category in which weather conditions require pilots to fly with instruments rather than sight

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Pilot licensing in Canada Canadian aircraft pilot licensing

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An instrument rating is required for a pilot to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR). In the United States, the rating is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Special visual flight rules are a set of aviation regulations under which a pilot may operate an aircraft. It is a special case of operating under visual flight rules (VFR).

Flight instructor Person who teaches others to operate aircraft

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A safety pilot is a rated pilot who helps maintain visual separation from other aircraft, clouds, and terrain while another pilot is wearing view limiting devices for the purposes of simulating instrument conditions.

Airspace class (United States) U.S. airspace system classification scheme

The United States airspace system's classification scheme is intended to maximize pilot flexibility within acceptable levels of risk appropriate to the type of operation and traffic density within that class of airspace – in particular to provide separation and active control in areas of dense or high-speed flight operations.

Night aviation regulations in the United States are administered and enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Unlike many countries, the United States places no special restrictions on VFR flying at night.

Visual approach

A visual approach is an approach to a runway at an airport conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR) but where the pilot proceeds by visual reference and clear of clouds to the airport. The pilot must at all times have either the airport or the preceding aircraft in sight. This approach must be authorized and under the control of the appropriate air traffic control (ATC) facility. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) definition adds that the visual approach can commence when "either part or all of an instrument approach is not completed", varying only slightly from the Federal Aviation Administration regulation and is essentially identical.

1991 Vallejo helicopter crash

On October 25, 1991, a Bell 206 carrying rock music concert promoter Bill Graham, his girlfriend Melissa Gold, and pilot Steve Kahn crashed into a transmission tower west of Vallejo, California, killing everyone on board. The cause of the accident was determined to be the pilot's intentional flight into known adverse weather conditions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Transport Canada (May 2010). "Aeronautical Information Manual RAC 2.7.4 VFR Over-the-Top". Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  2. ↑ Davisson, Budd (July 2001). "Over The Top: The Pros And Cons Of Flying VFR Above The Clouds". AOPA. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Federal Aviation Administration (9 February 2022). "§ 91.205 Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements". Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  4. ↑ "Sec. 61.89: General Limitations". Federal Aviation Regulations. Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Sec. 61.315: What are the privileges and limits of my sport pilot certificate?". Federal Aviation Regulations. Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  6. ↑ § 32 Flüge nach Sichtflugregeln über Wolkendecken
  7. ↑ § 4 air traffic control equipment for operations under visual flight rules
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