Visual Meteorological Conditions

The terms visual meteorological conditions (VMC) German visual meteorological conditions are synonymous and refer to the minimum weather conditions which must be met in order flights to VFR perform.

The minimum conditions depend on the respective airspace and are composed of the flight visibility and minimum distances to clouds. In some air spaces a minimum ground view , minimum height of the main cloud base or ground view are required. If these minimum conditions are not achieved, instrument meteorological conditions prevail . However, special VFR approvals can be granted.

VMC minima according to ICAO

The minimum conditions for visual flights are set internationally by the ICAO in Appendix 2 to the Agreement on International Civil Aviation :

Height band	Airspace classes	Flight vision	Horizontal cloud distance	Cloud distance vertical
≥ 3,050 m (10,000 ft ) AMSL	B, C, D, E, F, G	8 kilometers	1,500 m	300 m (1000 ft)
<3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL > 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or ^* > 300 m (1000 ft) AGL	B, C, D, E, F, G	5 km	1,500 m	300 m (1000 ft)
≤ 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or ^* ≤ 300 m (1000 ft) AGL	B, C, D, E	5 km	1,500 m	300 m (1000 ft)
≤ 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or ^* ≤ 300 m (1000 ft) AGL	F, G	5 km ^**	Clouds must not be touched, and a view of the earth is required

^* whichever is higher

^**can e.g. B. for slow-flying aircraft or helicopters can be reduced to 1.5 km

National regulations

The national regulations of individual states are mostly based on the above-mentioned ICAO specifications. However, there are often deviations in the details.

Germany

For Germany, the VMC conditions are set out in the air traffic regulations under the expression minimum weather conditions for flights under visual flight rules . The definitions there partly differ from those of the ICAO:

Height band	Airspace classes	Flight vision	Cloud distance horizontal	Cloud distance vertical
≥ 3,050 m (10,000 ft ) AMSL	B ^*** , C, D, E, G	8 kilometers	1,500 m	300 m (1000 ft)
<3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL > 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or ^* > 300 m (1000 ft) AGL	B ^*** , C, D, E, G	5 km	1,500 m	300 m (1000 ft)
≤ 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or ^* ≤ 300 m (1000 ft) AGL	G	1.5 km ^**	Clouds must not be touched also requires a view of the earth

* whichever is higher

** For helicopters , reduced visibility is sufficient if the speed is slow enough to avoid collisions

^*** Airspace class B does not currently exist in Germany, but the VMC minima for it are still defined in the LuftVO.

The following special cases also apply:

In control zones (CTR), a ground visibility of 5 km and a main cloud base of at least 450 m (1,500 ft) above ground is required.
In airspace G, a flight view of 800 m is sufficient for rotary wing flights as well as airship and balloon flights .

Austria

The following minimum conditions for visual flight are defined in the Austrian Aviation Manual:

Height band	Airspace classes	Flight vision	Horizontal cloud distance	Cloud distance vertical
≥ FL 100	C, D, E, G	8 kilometers	1,500 m	300 m
<FL 100	C, D, E, G	5 km	1,500 m	300 m (1,000 ft)
≤ 3,000 ft AMSL or ^* ≤ 1,000 ft AGL	G	1.5 km ^**	Clouds must not be touched, and a view of the earth is required

^* whichever is higher

^**In the case of helicopters , reduced visibility is sufficient if the speed is slow enough to avoid collisions

Individual evidence

↑ ICAO : Annex 2 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation - Rules of the Air , 10th Edition, July 2005, Section 3.9 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima

↑ Annex 5 (to § 4 Paragraphs 2 to 4, § 26 Paragraph 1, § 26a Paragraph 2 and § 28 Paragraph 1 and 2 LuftVO) - Conditions for flights according to instrument and visual flight rules

↑ Austro Control : Aviation Handbook Austria , section ENR-1.2-1, version of March 11, 2010, available online (PDF; 101 kB) ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed January 24, 2013@1@ 2