How to Remember VFR Weather Minimums

By Bobbie Lind - October 11, 2016

If you’re anything like me, as a new private pilot, I only fly in “good” weather and when I want
to. However, that alone severely limits my ability to get hours. Good weather for me is calm to
about 10 kts winds, no hint of rain and at best, small cumulus clouds in the sky.

This, while slightly exaggerated, means that I only fly in “perfect” conditions. I have that
flexibility as a private pilot who flies for fun. But if I want to expand my skill as a pilot there is
more weather that I can fly in.

As a VFR pilot we need to know the rules and regulations out there. The FAA has established
the minimum conditions a VFR pilot may fly.

14 CFR part 91.155

Thankfully the weather minimums reside in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) title 14
(Federal Aviation Administration) part 91.155. VFR or Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC)
are split up by airspace.

The table below shows the minimums as the regs state.

This is a lot of numbers and specifics to remember so let’s make it a little easier and break it
down by airspace. Also, to help us remember the order of distance we will use ABH, or “Always
Be Hunting” as in searching for clouds. That is Above, Below, Horizontal.

Class A
This is most likely the easiest to remember. No VFR in Class A airspace. Nadda, zip, zilch,
none. While this may be easy to answer I promise you, if you are going for your interview with
an airline they may try and trick you with this question. It’s not one to forget.

Remember: Class A, NO VFR.

Class B
This is our first airspace where we have minimums. They are both easy to remember, and
very easy to fly. 3 statute miles and Clear of Clouds. The statute miles can be dropped (as all