Polite discussion about EASA, the CAA, the ANO and the delights of aviation regulation.
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By Baldrick
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1820640
Now that we are no longer part of EASA, when will the CAA rescind the 1000 foot vertical clearance from cloud rule? It has the possibility of becoming the one positive to come from B****t. :roll:
By Edward Bellamy
#1820812
I think this is in the pipeline for a few months time.

It's probably worth reflecting on the limitations of the old UK rule, I suspect it is more limiting than many understood. ICAO classifications required that VFR has 1,000 ft vertically from cloud in class D airspace. SVFR allows that to be reduced to "clear of cloud" when in receipt of a SVFR clearance.

SVFR does require ATC separation, but other states seem to manage this since separation minima are not set in law.

All the old UK rule really did was build SVFR into the rule such that if you were in sight of the surface, less than 140 kts etc you could just be "clear of cloud" and 1500m visibility without having to be formally SVFR or for separation minima to change. It only applied below 3,000 ft though. In all other circumstances the standard ICAO 1,000ft rule has always applied in the UK since it appeared in c.1990.

One of advantage of the UK rule was it is applied in all class D, not just CTRs in which SVFR can apply. So you might if transiting a low CTA gain an advantage, although not sure how much difference that makes in practice.
By aerfungus
#1825710
The proposed change does not seem to alter what was the VFR criteria in SERA 5005 (b) in relation to taking off or landing at an airfield in a CTR:

Except when a special VFR clearance is obtained from an air traffic control unit, VFR flights shall not take off or land at an aerodrome within a control zone, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or aerodrome traffic circuit when the reported meteorological conditions at that aerodrome are below the following minima:
(1) the ceiling is less than 450 m (1 500 ft); or
(2) the ground visibility is less than 5 km.

Unless I am missing something....
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By Edward Bellamy
#1825739
Quite right it does not, however there was not a UK exemption from SERA re aerodrome requirements (or at least not recently), so no change in that regard. For such arrivals and departures there should not be much issue with getting SVFR.
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