G-BLEW wrote:When Irv said
But you are in a very small minority if you know when you should ask for svfr, and probably an even smaller number who would know what it would mean in practice.
I was thinking that a plain English explanation about SVFR would be of benefit to the people not in Irv's very small minority.
Ian
Well if there is no VFR due cloud or vis, and you haven't got ratings to go IFR, I suppose the benefit of SVFR is to be able to get into or out of the zone even if it means burning fuel over a VRP or holding point whilst waiting for other aircraft to be at a suitable distance!
I don't know what they will say here, but in SA, when you call up, the controller would say the zone is "IMC due to a 1400' cloudbase" (other reasons are available) and then any VFR clearance request is simply refused until you remember to add the word 'special'.
I think my first article for Flyer nearly 20 years ago was exactly this wasn't it? Do you do reprint fees?
Basically there
used to be two reasons why a PPL only pilot would want SVFR - one was to fly in a CTR at night, and the other was to be absolved from what was the 1500' rule if that would be a problem on your task (although you still had to land clear). That was because vis 10km minimum was needed in the old days (and only 5km for VFR like today), and you only had to be clear of cloud and sight of surface at 3000' amsl or below. Those two reasons have changed.
Now, the very unusual UK 10 km minimum for SVFR has gone, leaving you with a combination of low visibility licence limitations and vfr airspace limitations, but for VFR, the 5km visibility minimum and cloud rules apply at any altitude in the CTR. So if at least 5km and no cloud "issues", ask for VFR, but they would give SVFR if you ask for SVFR, so don't ask. If there are any cloud or vis issues (and can't keep cloud distances, or vis below 5km), Hobson's choice, SVFR or nowt.
Irv Lee - (R/T & Flight Examiner)
Deconfusion & Preflight Aide-Memoire:
http://tinyurl.com/pilotpalUK GA Twittering not Tw@ering: @irvleeuk