VMC Criteria

Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) criteria define the minimum flight visibility and cloud distance requirements that must be met for flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). These criteria vary by airspace class and altitude band.

Key Points

• •In Class G airspace above 3,000 ft AMSL or 1,000 ft AGL (whichever is higher), the requirement is 5,000 m flight visibility with 1,500 m horizontal and 1,000 ft vertical distance from cloud.
• •In Class D airspace, the requirement is 5,000 m flight visibility with 600 m horizontal, 1,000 ft above cloud, and 500 ft below cloud.
• •At or below whichever is the higher of 3,000 ft AMSL or 1,000 ft AGL in Class G, the requirement is 5,000 m visibility, clear of cloud, and in sight of the ground or water.

Related Terms