[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 14, Volume 2] [Revised as of January 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 14CFR91.155] [Page 220-221] TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) PART 91_GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES--Table of Contents Subpart B_Flight Rules Sec. 91.155 Basic VFR weather minimums. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and Sec. 91.157, no person may operate an aircraft under VFR when the flight visibility is less, or at a distance from clouds that is less, than that prescribed for the corresponding altitude and class of airspace in the following table: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Distance from Airspace Flight visibility clouds ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Class A....................... Not Applicable........ Not Applicable. Class B....................... 3 statute miles....... Clear of Clouds. Class C....................... 3 statute miles....... 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. Class D....................... 3 statute miles....... 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. Class E: Less than 10,000 feet MSL... 3 statute miles....... 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal At or above 10,000 feet MSL. 5 statute miles....... 1,000 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 1 statute mile horizontal. Class G: 1,200 feet or less above the surface (regardless of MSL altitude). Day, except as provided in 1 statute mile........ Clear of clouds. Sec. 91.155(b). Night, except as provided in 3 statute miles....... 500 feet below. Sec. 91.155(b). 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL Day........................... 1 statute mile........ 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. Night......................... 3 statute miles....... 500 feet below. 1,000 feet above. 2,000 feet horizontal. More than 1,200 feet above the 5 statute miles....... 1,000 feet surface and at or above below. 10,000 feet MSL. 1,000 feet above. 1 statute mile horizontal. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (b) Class G Airspace. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, the following operations may be conducted in Class G airspace below 1,200 feet above the surface: (1) Helicopter. A helicopter may be operated clear of clouds if operated at a speed that allows the pilot adequate opportunity to see any air traffic or obstruction in time to avoid a collision. (2) Airplane, powered parachute, or weight-shift-control aircraft. If the visibility is less than 3 statute miles but not less than 1 statute mile during night hours and you are operating in an airport traffic pattern within \1/2\ [[Page 221]] mile of the runway, you may operate an airplane, powered parachute, or weight-shift-control aircraft clear of clouds. (c) Except as provided in Sec. 91.157, no person may operate an aircraft beneath the ceiling under VFR within the lateral boundaries of controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport when the ceiling is less than 1,000 feet. (d) Except as provided in Sec. 91.157 of this part, no person may take off or land an aircraft, or enter the traffic pattern of an airport, under VFR, within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport-- (1) Unless ground visibility at that airport is at least 3 statute miles; or (2) If ground visibility is not reported at that airport, unless flight visibility during landing or takeoff, or while operating in the traffic pattern is at least 3 statute miles. (e) For the purpose of this section, an aircraft operating at the base altitude of a Class E airspace area is considered to be within the airspace directly below that area. [Doc. No. 24458, 56 FR 65660, Dec. 17, 1991, as amended by Amdt. 91-235, 58 FR 51968, Oct. 5, 1993; Amdt. 91-282, 69 FR 44880, July 27, 2004]