a. SVFR operations in weather conditions less than basic VFR minima are authorized:
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.
1. At any location not prohibited by Part 91, Appendix D or when an
exemption to FAR 91 has been granted and an associated Letter of Agreement
established. FAR 91 does not prohibit SVFR helicopter operations.
2. Only within the lateral boundaries of Class B, C, D, or E
surface areas, below 10,000 feet MSL.
3. Only when requested by the pilot.
4. On the basis of weather conditions reported at the airport
of intended landing/departure.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Climb to VFR, paragraph 7-5-6.
FAAO 7110.65, Ground Visibility Below One Mile, paragraph 7-5-7.
5. When weather conditions are not reported at the airport of intended
landing/departure and the pilot advises that VFR cannot be maintained and
requests SVFR.
PHRASEOLOGY -
CLEARED TO ENTER/OUT OF/THROUGH, BRAVO/CHARLIE/DELTA/ECHO
SURFACE AREA
and if required,
(direction) OF (name) AIRPORT (specified routing),
and
MAINTAIN SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS
and if required,
AT OR BELOW (altitude below 10,000 feet MSL)
or as applicable under an exemption from Part 91,
CLEARED FOR (coded arrival or departure procedure) ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE,
(additional instructions as required).
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Airspace Classes, 2-4-22.
b. SVFR operations may be authorized for aircraft operating in
or transiting a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area when
the primary airport is reporting VFR but the pilot advises that basic VFR
cannot be maintained.
NOTE -
The basic requirements for issuance of a SVFR clearance in subparagraph
a apply with the obvious exception that weather conditions at the controlling
airport are not required to be less than basic VFR minima.
a. SVFR flights may be approved only if arriving and departing IFR aircraft are not delayed.
EXAMPLE -
1 - A SVFR aircraft has been cleared to enter the Class B, C, D, or
E surface area and subsequently an IFR aircraft is ready to depart or is
in position to begin an approach. Less overall delay might accrue to the
IFR aircraft if the SVFR aircraft is allowed to proceed to the airport
and land, rather than leave a Class B, C, D, or E surface area or be repositioned
to provide IFR priority.
2 - A SVFR aircraft is number one for takeoff and located in such a
position that the number two aircraft, an IFR flight, cannot taxi past
to gain access to the runway. Less overall delay might accrue to the IFR
aircraft by releasing the SVFR departure rather than by having the aircraft
taxi down the runway to a turnoff point so the IFR aircraft could be released
first.
NOTE -
The priority afforded IFR aircraft over SVFR aircraft is not intended
to be so rigidly applied that inefficient use of airspace results. The
controller has the prerogative of permitting completion of a SVFR operation
already in progress when an IFR aircraft becomes a factor if better overall
efficiency will result.
b. Inform an aircraft of the anticipated delay when a SVFR clearance
cannot be granted because of IFR traffic. Do not issue an EFC or expected
departure time.
PHRASEOLOGY -
EXPECT (number) MINUTES DELAY, (additional instructions as necessary).
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.
FAAO 7110.65, Application, paragraph 5-6-1.
a. Apply approved separation between:
1. SVFR aircraft.
2. SVFR aircraft and IFR aircraft.
b. Alternate SVFR helicopter separation minima may be established
when warranted by the volume and/or complexity of local helicopter operations.
Alternate SVFR helicopter separation minima shall be established with Letters
of Agreement with the helicopter operator which shall specify, as a minimum,
that SVFR helicopters are to maintain visual reference to the surface and
adhere to the following aircraft separation minima:
1. Between a SVFR helicopter and an arriving or departing IFR
aircraft.
(a) 1/2 mile if the IFR aircraft is less than 1 mile from
the landing airport.
(b) 1 mile if the IFR aircraft is 1 mile or more from
the airport.
2. 1 mile between SVFR helicopters. This separation may be reducted
to 200 feet if:
(a) Both helicopters are departing simultaneous on courses
that diverge by at least 30 degrees and:
(1) The tower can determine this separation by reference
to surface markings, or:
(2) One of the departing helicopters is instructed
to remain at least 200 feet from the other.
NOTE -
Radar vectors are authorized as prescribed in paragraph 5-6-1.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.
Do not assign a fixed altitude when applying vertical separation, but clear the Special VFR aircraft at or below an altitude which is at least 500 feet below any conflicting IFR traffic but not below the minimum safe altitude prescribed in CFR Part 91.119.
PHRASEOLOGY -
MAINTAIN SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS AT OR BELOW (altitude).
NOTE -
1 - SVFR aircraft are not assigned fixed altitudes because of the clearance
from clouds requirement.
2 - The minimum safe altitudes are
(a) Over congested areas, an altitude at least 1,000 feet above the
highest obstacle, and
(b) Over other than congested areas, an altitude at least 500 feet
above the surface.
(c) Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimum altitudes
prescribed in (a) and (b) above.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.
FAAO 7110.65, Application, paragraph 5-6-1.
{New-98-3 Revised February 26, 1998}
CFR Part 91.119, Minimum Safe Altitudes: General.
a. Authorize local Special VFR operations for a specified period
(series of landings and takeoffs, etc.) upon request if the aircraft can
be recalled when traffic or weather conditions require. Where warranted,
letters of agreement may be consummated.
PHRASEOLOGY -
LOCAL SPECIAL VFR OPERATIONS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF (name) AIRPORT
ARE AUTHORIZED UNTIL (time). MAINTAIN SPECIAL VFR CONDITIONS.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7210.3, Appropriate Subjects, paragraph 4-3-2.
b. Control facilities may also authorize an FSS to transmit SVFR clearances so that only one aircraft at a time operates in the Class B, C, D, or E surface areas unless pilots agree that they will maintain visual separation with other aircraft operating in the Class B, C, D, or E, surface areas. Such authorization concerning visual separation by pilots shall be contained in a letter of agreement between the control facility and the FSS.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7210.3, Developing LOA, paragraph 4-3-3.
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.
Authorize an aircraft to climb to VFR upon request if the only weather limitation is restricted visibility.
PHRASEOLOGY -
CLIMB TO VFR WITHIN BRAVO/CHARLIE/DELTA/ECHO SURFACE AREA/WITHIN (a
specified distance) MILES FROM (airport name) AIRPORT, MAINTAIN SPECIAL
VFR CONDITIONS UNTIL REACHING VFR.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.
FAAO 7110.65, Airspace Classes, paragraph 2-4-22.
FAAO 7110.65, Authorization, paragraph 7-5-1.
7-5-7 Ground Visibility Below One Mile
CFR Part 91 does not prohibit helicopter SVFR flight when the
visibility is less than 1 mile. Treat requests for SVFR fixed wing operations
as follows when the ground visibility is officially reported at an airport
as less than 1 mile:
a. Inform departing aircraft that ground visibility is less
than 1 mile and that a clearance cannot be issued.
b. Inform arriving aircraft, operating outside of a Class B,
Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area, that ground visibility is less
than 1 mile and that, unless an emergency exists, a clearance cannot be
issued.
c. Inform arriving aircraft, operating VFR/SVFR within a Class
B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area, that ground visibility is
less than 1 mile and request the pilot to advise intentions.
PHRASEOLOGY -
(name of airport) VISIBILITY LESS THAN ONE MILE. ADVISE INTENTIONS.
{New-98-8 Revised August 13, 1998. Was "...operating under SVFR are not required...}
NOTE -
Clear an aircraft to land at an airport with an operating control
tower, traffic permitting, if the pilot reports the
airport in sight. The pilot is responsible to continue to the
airport or exit the surface area. CFR Part 91.157 prohibits
VFR aircraft (other than helicopters) from landing at any airport
within a surface area when ground visibility is less
than 1 mile. A pilot could inadvertently encounter conditions
that are below SVFR minimums after entering a
surface area due to rapidly changing weather. The pilot is best
suited to determine the action to be taken since
pilots operating under SVFR between sunrise and sunset are not
required to be instrument rated, and the possibility
exists that flight visibility may not be the same as ground
visibility. CFR Part 91.3 authorizes a pilot encountering an
in-flight emergency requiring immediate action to deviate from
any rule of CFR Part 91 to the extent required to meet
that emergency. Flight into adverse weather conditions may require
the pilot to execute the emergency authority
granted in CFR Part 91.3 and continue inbound to land.
d. Authorize scheduled air carrier aircraft in the United States
to conduct operations if ground visibility is not less than 1/2 statute
mile.
NOTE -
CFR Part 121 permits landing or takeoff by domestic scheduled air carriers
where a local surface restriction to visibility is not less than 1/2 statute
mile, provided all turns after takeoff or before landing and all flights
beyond 1 statute mile from the airport boundary can be accomplished above
or outside the area so restricted. The pilot is solely responsible for
determining if the nature of the visibility restriction will permit compliance
with the provisions of CFR Part 121.
e. Clear an aircraft to fly through the Class B, Class C, Class
D, or Class E surface area if the aircraft reports flight visibility is
at least 1 statute mile.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.
FAAO 7110.65, Authorization, paragraph 7-5-1.
7-5-8 Flight Visibility Below One Mile
Treat requests for SVFR fixed-wing operations as follows when weather conditions are not reported at an airport and the pilot advises the flight visibility is less than 1 mile:
NOTE -
CFR Part 91 prescribes the visibility for basic VFR and SVFR operations
as the official reported ground visibility at airports where provided and
landing or takeoff "flight visibility" where there is no official reported
ground visibility.
a. Inform departing aircraft that a clearance cannot be issued.
b. Inform arriving aircraft operating outside of a Class B,
Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area that a clearance cannot be issued
unless an emergency exists.
c. Request the intentions of an arriving aircraft operating
within a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area.
{New-98-8 Revised August 13, 1998. Was "...operating under SVFR are not required...}
NOTE -
Clear an aircraft to land at an airport with an operating control
tower, traffic permitting, if the pilot reports the
airport in sight. The pilot is responsible to continue to the
airport or exit the surface area. CFR Part 91.157
prohibits VFR aircraft (other than helicopters) from landing
at any airport within a surface area when flight visibility
is less than 1 mile. A pilot could inadvertently encounter conditions
that are below SVFR minimums after entering a
surface area due to rapidly changing weather. The pilot is best
suited to determine the action to be taken since
pilots operating under SVFR between sunrise and sunset are not
required to be instrument rated, and the possibility
exists that flight visibility may not be the same as ground
visibility. CFR Part 91.3 authorizes a pilot encountering an
in-flight emergency requiring immediate action to deviate from
any rule of CFR Part 91 to the extent required to meet
that emergency. Flight into adverse weather conditions may require
the pilot to execute the emergency authority
granted in CFR Part 91.3 and continue inbound to land.
REFERENCE -
FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, paragraph 2-1-4.