Staying Safe – Avoid New Mexico and Colorado Airplane Mishaps by Simplifying VFR Weather Rules

http://danelawfirm.com/simplifying-vfr-weather-rules/
Staying Safe – Avoid New Mexico and Colorado Airplane Mishaps by Simplifying VFR Weather Rules
Many New Mexico and Colorado aircraft crashes are caused in part or in whole by poor weather. For example, a New Mexico Condition Police (NMSP) helicopter crashed in the mountains north of Santa Fe on June 9, 2009, because the pilot in command—the Chief Pilot of the NMSP, flew into instrument meteorological conditions at evening without an instrument flight score. While that accident was the internet result of nearly every dangerous piloting attitude, even fastidious aviators can find themselves afoul of a weather-related regulatory pitfall to one degree or another.

Simplifying VFR Weather RulesFederal Aviation Regulations 91.one hundred fifty five and 91.157 promulgate the minimum weather conditions required for a pilot to complete a flight under visual flight rules (VFR). The regulations apply practical axioms to the primary way pilots avoid collisions with terrain and other aircraft: the see-and-avoid concept we use every day in our cars. These weather minimums, together with other rules and procedures (e.g. cruising altitudes, pace limits, right-of-way rules, and flight following services), are designed to help a diligent pilot visually detect and avoid other aircraft and terrain in flight. If these VFR minimums are not met, the pilot must carry out the flight under the instrument flight rules (IFR), or not at all.

When I was in ground school, I struggled to make feeling of the Part 91 weather regulations. To cope with the load, I made mnemonic flashcards. I suspect many pilots will recall a similar experience. However, there is a shortcut to learning and remembering the minimums for most VFR fight below 10,000 ft MSL. For instance, pilots can memorize a relatively simple set of “standard” weather minimums which, if observed, will place the pilot in the position of automated compliance with Far 91.one hundred fifty five*. Please note that my use of the phrase “standard” is in the basic-meaning feeling it is not a phrase that appears in the regulations. For example, “standard” should not be confused with the words “basic” and “special,” which are outlined phrases with specific regulatory meaning.

Standard VFR weather minimums are covered in this article. In another artice, I will discuss the VFR minimums that deviate from “standard,” and thus account for the complexity. In only one case are the minimums more stringent: when operating in airspace above 10,000 ft MSL. However, there are several instances where the minimums are less stringent. The benefit of this method of separating standard from the other VFR minimums is that a pilot can pick and choose among the technicalities of the other-than-standard minimums to take advantage of one or more of the less stringent weather minimums that could give more flexibility to his or her flying. If the pilot doesn’t want or need the less stringent minimums, the pilot can use the simplified standard types.

The standard VFR weather minimums relate to 3 weather phenomena: visibility, cloud clearance, and ceiling. The “standard” to memorize is: The standard visibility minimum is 3 statute miles the standard minimum distance from clouds is 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, and 2,000 ft horizontally the standard ceiling is at minimum 1,000 ft above the surface. In addition, here are some notable definitions:
Visibility

Note the regulatory distinction between ground and flight visibility. Ground visibility is outlined by Far Part 1 as “the prevailing horizontal visibility near the earth’s surface as reported by the United States Nationwide Weather Service or an accredited observer.” Where an airport in controlled airspace officially reports the weather, pilots participating in flight operations at that airport are certain by the reported ground visibility. Otherwise, the controlling visibility minimum is flight visibility, which is that which is observed by the pilot from the cockpit. Flight visibility is thus highly subjective. A good example is an aircraft transiting the controlled airspace of an airport, but not operating at the airport. The pilot is required to maintain flight visibility of at minimum 3 miles but is not certain by the officially reported ground visibility at the airport.
Ceiling

The ceiling minimum applies only to airports in controlled airspace, meaning controlled airspace down to the surface. The ceiling minimum does not apply to the numerous airports in Class G airspace. Pilots sometimes misinterpret VFR charts where an airport is underneath, but does not lie within controlled airspace. In other words, the ceiling minimum does not apply to airports underlying controlled airspace. An aircraft may not operate VFR beneath a reported ceiling when the ceiling is less than 1,000 ft. An aircraft may be operated VFR above a reported ceiling, -”on top,” as we say-even right over the airport. This is different for student, recreational, and sport pilots they may not operate at any stage of flight without visual reference to the ground.

In order to easily operate in automated compliance with the VFR weather minimums in any airspace below 10,000 ft MSL, just observe the standard weather minimums of 3 miles visibility cloud clearance of 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, and 2,000 ft horizontally and a ceiling of at minimum 1,000 ft.