Basic VFR weather minimums

In plain English

To fly VFR you need a minimum flight visibility and to stay a minimum distance from clouds, and both depend on the airspace and altitude. The familiar baseline is 3 statute miles visibility with "1,000 above, 500 below, 2,000 horizontal" cloud clearance in controlled airspace below 10,000 ft MSL.

Key points

• Class B: 3 SM and clear of clouds.
• Class C, D, and E (below 10,000 MSL): 3 SM, 1,000 ft above / 500 ft below / 2,000 ft horizontal.
• Class E at/above 10,000 MSL: 5 SM, 1,000 above / 1,000 below / 1 SM horizontal.
• Class G (day, ≤1,200 AGL): 1 SM and clear of clouds; minimums increase at night and at altitude.

Common pitfalls

• Forgetting cloud clearances change at 10,000 ft MSL.
• Confusing flight visibility (what you can see) with reported ground visibility.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*