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14 CFR § 91.155
Volume 2 · Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 edition.
Basic VFR weather minimums
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)
For aircraft other than
helicopters:
Day, except as provided in 1 statute mile..... Clear of clouds.
Sec. 91.155(b).
Night, except as provided 3 statute miles.... 500 feet below.
in Sec. 91.155(b).
................... 1,000 feet above.
................... 2,000 feet
horizontal.
For helicopters:
Day........................ \1/2\ statute mile. Clear of clouds
Night, except as provided 1 statute mile..... Clear of clouds.
in Sec. 91.155(b).
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 5 statute miles.... 1,000 feet below.
the surface and at or
above 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 in an
airport traffic pattern within \1/2\ mile of the runway or helipad of
intended landing if the flight visibility is not less than \1/2\ statute
mile.
(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\ 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.
[Docket 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;
Amdt. 91-330, 79 FR 9972, Feb. 21, 2014; Amdt. 91-330A, 79 FR 41125,
July 15, 2014]U.S. Government work — public domain (17 U.S.C. §105). Reproduced from the checksummed 2025 annual edition of Title 14; always confirm against the current eCFR.