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What are the minimum requirements to operate under a Special VFR clearance in controlled airspace during the day?
Choices
✓ An ATC clearance, remaining clear of clouds, and at least 1 statute mile visibilitycorrect
Daytime special VFR requires an ATC clearance, clear of clouds, and at least 1 SM visibility.
3 statute miles visibility and the standard 500/1,000/2,000 cloud clearances
Those are the basic VFR minimums special VFR relieves; SVFR needs only clear of clouds and 1 SM.
No clearance is needed as long as you stay clear of clouds
Special VFR always requires an ATC clearance.
An instrument rating, regardless of the time of day
An instrument rating is required only for special VFR at night, not during the day.
Why
Special VFR is an ATC clearance to operate below basic VFR minimums in a controlled surface area: clear of clouds with at least 1 statute mile of visibility. At night it additionally requires an instrument-rated pilot in an instrument-equipped aircraft.
FAA source: 14 CFR 91.157browse the reference library →
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.