8. UK Law - Flight Rules

Question 1

Define Controlled Airspace

Answer 1

Airspace which has been notified as
Class A,B,C,D,E.
(No class B in the UK)

Question 2

Define Controlled Aerodrome

Answer 2

Means an aerodrome at which air traffic control
service is provided to aerodrome traffic
regardless whether or not a control zone exists.

Question 3

Define Flight visibility

Answer 3

means the visibility forward from the cockpit of
an aircraft in flight.

Question 4

Define “In Flight”

Answer 4

An aircraft is deemed to be in flight—
(a) in the case of a piloted flying machine, from the
moment when, after the embarkation of its crew for
the purpose of taking off, it first moves under its
own power, until the moment when it next comes to
rest after landing;

Can be in own words for oral “From brakes off to Brakes off”

Question 5

Define Night

Answer 5

The time between half an hour after sunset and half
an hour before sunrise (both times inclusive), sunset
and sunrise being determined at surface level.

Question 6

What is the pilots responsibility?

Answer 6

The VMC determines if the flight is able to fly under VFR rules.

The pilot of an aircraft is responsible for
determining whether or not the Visual
Meteorological Conditions (VMC) permit flight
in accordance with VFR. They will determine the
flight visibility (FV).
The VMC determine VFR.
However, for fixed wing and helicopter flights to
or from aerodromes, or entering ATZ or traffic
circuit in class D airspace - the ground visibility
(GV) shall be used.

Question 7

Exceptions to VMC for VFR.

Answer 7

(National infrastructure), however the
UK specified the individual criteria.
These include:
Powerline
Rail track inspection
Pipeline
Police
Helimed
Search and rescue (SAR)
SAR training flight if a letter of agreement with
Air traffic provider exists

Question 8

VMC minima

Question 9

Making VFR decisions?

Answer 9

When the reported meteorological conditions at
aerodromes in Class D airspace reduce below a
GV of 5 km and / or a cloud ceiling of 1500ft,
both by day or night, ATC shall:
Advise pilots of aircraft intending to operate
under VFR to or from such aerodromes, and
Request the pilot to specify the type of
clearance required.

Question 10

VFR refusal

Answer 10

ATC shall not issue any further VFR clearances to
aircraft wishing to operate under VFR
• to or from an aerodrome,
• or enter the aerodrome traffic zone,
• or active aerodrome traffic circuit,
• in Class D airspace when the official
meteorological report (METAR) indicates
ground visibility less than 5km,
and/or cloud ceiling less than 1500ft.

Question 11

VFR Crusing levels

Answer 11

The UK differs from the SERA VFR Cruising
Levels table as, from a UK perspective, VFR
Cruising Levels are not specified for VFR flight:
“SERA.5005(g) (Visual flight rules)
The UK General Permission ORS4 no. 1578 permits
an aircraft in level cruising flight above 3,000 feet
above mean sea level and operated in accordance
with the visual flight rules to be flown at a level
other than a cruising level appropriate to its
magnetic track as specified in the table of cruising
levels in Appendix 3 of SERA.

Comply with the table of cruising levels (UK Reg (EU) No.
923/2012 SERA.5025(a) and Appendix 3) when in level
flight above 3,000 ft amsl.
The altimeter is set to 1013.2 hPa and the cruising level is
selected according to the magnetic track unless the aircraft
is operated:
(a) in conformity with levels allocated by an appropriate air
traffic service unit; or,
(b) in accordance with instrument approach procedures
notified by the CAA in relation to an aerodrome. Note: See
ORS4 No. 1578

Question 12

IFR CRUISING LEVELS OUTSIDE CAS

Answer 12

Outside Controlled Airspace below FL195
In the provision of services to IFR aircraft outside
controlled airspace, cruising levels shall be assigned
according to the table of cruising levels (UK Reg (EU) No.
923/2012 SERA.5025(a) and Appendix 3).
However, in accordance with ORS 4 No. 1578 this is not
required:
(1) At or below 3,000 ft amsl.
(2) Above 3,000 ft amsl, when aircraft are operated:
(a) in conformity with levels allocated by an appropriate
air traffic service unit; or,
(b) in accordance with instrument approach procedures
notified by the CAA in relation to an aerodrome.

Question 13

IFR

Answer 13

A pilot MUST fly according to IFR when:
Airspace is notified Class A
Meteorological conditions preclude VFR
(note differences at night)
Note:
Due to less navigation equipment on some
aircraft, as long as the pilot holds an IR, they can
enter Class A with a clearance from ACC
provided they comply with the VMC minima on
the following slides.

Question 14

CLASS A PENETRATION - VMC

Answer 14

For the purposes of:
Climbs and descents maintaining VMC;
Powered aircraft - Airways crossings;
(Note 1 previous)(Ref. AIP ENR 1.1, paragraph 1.6.1.6.2).
in Class A Airspace, the VMC minima are to be:
At or above FL 100:
8 km flight visibility, 1500 m horizontal and 1000
ft vertical distance from cloud;
Below FL 100:
5 km flight visibility, 1500 m horizontal and 1000
ft vertical distance from cloud.

Question 15

CLASS A PENETRATION - VMC

Answer 15

For the purposes of:
Climbs and descents maintaining VMC;
Powered aircraft - Airways crossings;
(Note 1 previous)(Ref. AIP ENR 1.1, paragraph 1.6.1.6.2).
in Class A Airspace, the VMC minima are to be:
At or above FL 100:
8 km flight visibility, 1500 m horizontal and 1000
ft vertical distance from cloud;
Below FL 100:
5 km flight visibility, 1500 m horizontal and 1000
ft vertical distance from cloud.

Question 16

Class a penertration - VMC

Answer 16

Powered aircraft,
Other penetrations of Airways
Other flights in VMC, for example photographic
survey flights, may also do so without
compliance with full IFR requirements, provided
that:
(a) Prior arrangements are made with the
appropriate ACC;
(b) specific ATC clearance is obtained for
individual flights;
(c) the aircraft can communicate by RTF on the
appropriate Airways frequency.

Question 17

Airwats crossing

Answer 17

Aircraft may, without ATC clearance, fly at right
angles across the base of an en-route section of
an Airway where the lower limit is defined as a
Flight Level.
Note: The lowest level of Controlled airspace is
treated as the less restrictive type of airspace.
(ICAO)

Question 18

Define SVFR

Answer 18

‘Special VFR flight’ means a VFR flight cleared by
air traffic control to operate within a control
zone (CTR) in meteorological conditions below
VMC;

Question 19

What are the SVFR requirements?

Answer 19

By the pilot:
clear of cloud and with the surface in sight;
the flight visibility is not less than 1500m or, for
helicopters, not less than 800m;
at speed of 140kts IAS or less to give adequate
opportunity to observe other traffic and
any obstacles in time to avoid a collision.

Question 20

What are the decisions involved for SVFR?

Answer 20

When the reported meteorological conditions at
aerodromes in Class D airspace reduce below a
GV of 1500m and / or a cloud ceiling of 600ft,
both by day or night, ATC shall:
Advise pilots of aircraft intending to operate
under SVFR to or from such aerodromes, and
Request the pilot to specify the type of
clearance required.

Question 21

When can SVFR be refused?

Answer 21

ATC shall not issue any further SVFR clearances
to aircraft wishing to operate under SVFR
(unless excepted):
to or from an aerodrome,
or enter the aerodrome traffic zone,
or active aerodrome traffic circuit,
in Class D airspace when the official
meteorological report (METAR) indicates

Non – Heli’s
GV less than
1500m and/or
cloud ceiling less
than 600ft.

Heli’s
GV less than 800m
and/or cloud
ceiling less than
600ft

Question 22

What is the standard SVFR Separation

Answer 22

Standard Separation will be applied between:
- IFR flights and SVFR flights.
- SVFR flights and SVFR flights.
- Except when reductions approved by The
Authority.
No separation can be provided between aircraft
flying on notified SVFR routes or areas
Aircraft are not normally assigned a level to fly.
Vertical separation may be achieved by
requiring an aircraft to fly “not above ” a
specified level.

Question 23

SVFR responsibilities

Answer 23

PILOT
Comply with ATC
instructions.
Clear of cloud and the
surface in sight and VMC
minima.
Terrain Clearance.
Licence Limitations.
Low Flying Rules.
Avoiding ATZ’s.
Remain below 140kts IAS

ATC
Separation
Traffic Integration
Route Clearance
Wx Appreciation