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Sunday 7th September 2008

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Interactive Quiz #36:
VFR Weather Minimums

Okay gang, it's back to basics with Irv Siegel's latest interactive quiz. In the United States (as well as just about every ICAO country), weather minimums for VFR flight vary according to the type of airspace, height above the ground, height above mean sea level, and whether it's daytime or night. Most of us learned these weather minimums when we were student pilots, but in the intervening years our knowledge may have gotten rusty, and in some cases the regulations may have changed. Take this quiz and refresh your knowledge of the weather minimums required to fly under visual flight rules.

by Irv Siegel

NOTE: In the United States, in addition to any other weather minimums, student pilots are required to have a minimum of three statute miles visibility during the day, and five statute miles visibility at night. Reminder: This quiz is based on the legal requirements in the United States. Safety concerns may very well dictate that a given pilot in a particular situation may need better weather than the legal minimums.

1. You are preparing to depart under basic VFR from an airport within Class D
Class D airspace.

a. 1 statute mile and clear of clouds
airspace. What minimum flight visibility and distance from clouds must you
b. 3 statute miles and clear of clouds
c. 3 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
d. 5 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
e. 5 statute miles and 1,000' below, 1,000' above, or 1 statute mile
f. No minimum flight visibility or distance from clouds is specified for
horizontal

maintain while within Class D airspace?

2. You are preparing to depart under basic VFR from an airport within Class B
Class B airspace.

maintain while within Class B airspace?

3. What minimum flight visibility and distance from clouds must you maintain
Class A airspace.

a. 1 statute mile and clear of clouds
b. 3 statute miles and clear of clouds
c. 3 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
d. 5 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
e. 5 statute miles and 1,000' below, 1,000' above, or 1 statute mile
f. No minimum flight visibility or distance from clouds is specified for
horizontal

while flying under VFR within Class A airspace?

4. You are preparing to depart in an airplane under basic VFR in the daytime
Class G airspace.

a. 1 statute mile and clear of clouds
b. 3 statute miles and clear of clouds
c. 3 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
d. 5 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
distance from clouds must you maintain while within Class G airspace and 1,200'
e. 5 statute miles and 1,000' below, 1,000' above, or 1 statute mile
f. No minimum flight visibility or distance from clouds is specified for
from an airport within Class G airspace. What minimum flight visibility and
horizontal

or less above the surface?

5. You are preparing to depart in an airplane under basic VFR at night from
Class G airspace.

What minimum flight visibility and distance from clouds must you maintain while
a. 1 statute mile and clear of clouds
an airport within Class G airspace. You will be departing the traffic pattern.
b. 3 statute miles and clear of clouds
c. 3 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
d. 5 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
e. 5 statute miles and 1,000' below, 1,000' above, or 1 statute mile
f. No minimum flight visibility or distance from clouds is specified for
horizontal

within Class G airspace and less than 10,000' MSL?

6. You are preparing to depart in an airplane under basic VFR at night from
Class G airspace.

a. 1 statute mile and clear of clouds
an airport within Class G airspace. You will be remaining in the traffic pattern
b. 3 statute miles and clear of clouds
c. 3 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
d. 5 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
e. 5 statute miles and 1,000' below, 1,000' above, or 1 statute mile
f. No minimum flight visibility or distance from clouds is specified for
horizontal

minimum flight visibility and distance from clouds must you maintain?

within one-half mile of the runway and below 1,200' above the surface. What

7. You are enroute in an airplane on a VFR cross-country flight in Class G
Class G airspace.

a. 1 statute mile and clear of clouds
airspace at 10,500' MSL and more than 1,200' above the surface. What minimum
b. 3 statute miles and clear of clouds
c. 3 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
d. 5 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
e. 5 statute miles and 1,000' below, 1,000' above, or 1 statute mile
f. No minimum flight visibility or distance from clouds is specified for
flight visibility and distance from clouds must you maintain?

horizontal

8. You are approaching an airport in Class D airspace for the purpose of
a. No minimum ceiling, one statute mile visibility
b. 1,000' minimum ceiling, one statute mile visibility
c. 1,000' minimum ceiling, three statute miles visibility
d. 1,500' minimum ceiling, three statute miles visibility
e. 1,500' minimum ceililng, five statute miles visibility
f. 1,500' minimum ceiling, no minimum visibility required
landing. What is the minimum reported ceiling and ground visibility (if
reported) required for you to land under basic VFR?

9. What minimum flight visibility and distance from clouds is required for an
a. 1 statute mile and clear of clouds
airplane to be flown under special VFR?

b. 3 statute miles and clear of clouds
c. 3 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
d. 5 statute miles and 500' below, 1,000' above, or 2,000' horizontal
e. 5 statute miles and 1,000' below, 1,000' above, or 1 statute mile
f. No minimum flight visibility or distance from clouds is specified for
horizontal

special VFR.

10. For flight in an airplane under special VFR at night, what additional
a. An ATC clearance is required.
b. The aircraft must be equipped with a working transponder.
c. The pilot must have a commercial pilot certificate or an airline transport
d. The pilot must meet the applicable requirements for instrument flight
e. The pilot must have a minimum of 200 hours of flight time, including 25
f. The pilot must be a registered member of AVweb.
hours at night.

pilot certificate.

requirement is there that does not exist during the daytime?

under Part 61.

Interactive Quiz #36: VFR Weather Minimums

Interactive Quiz #36:
VFR Weather Minimums