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Special visual flight rules (alsospecial VFR orSVFR) are a set of aviation regulations under which a pilot may operate an aircraft. It is a special case of operating undervisual flight rules (VFR).
The definition for SVFR may be different in different countries, depending on the local aviation regulations.
TheICAO definition of Special VFR flight is a VFR flight cleared by air traffic control to operate within a control zone in meteorological conditions belowvisual meteorological conditions.[1]
According toFederal Aviation Regulations, SVFR operations can only be conducted in thecontrolled airspace around an airport where that controlled airspace extends down to the surface (so-calledsurface area). SVFR can only be conducted below 10,000 feetMSL in such areas.[2][3]
SVFR at night requires an IFR-equipped aircraft and an IFR-rated pilot in command ("IFR" meansInstrument flight rules). In helicopters, there is no minimum flight visibility requirement, or a requirement for an IFR-equipped aircraft or an IFR-rated pilot in command.[2]
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Flight under SVFR is only allowed incontrolled airspace, and always requires clearance fromair traffic control (ATC).[4] It usually happens when the aircraft is insidecontrolled airspace, and the local weather is less than the minimums required for flight undervisual flight rules (VFR) within the airspace in question.[5]
Note that an aircraft might be able to fly under SVFR even inClass A airspace, whereinstrument flight rules (IFR) flight is the norm.[6]
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The aircraft need not necessarily be equipped for flight under IFR, and the aircraft must remain clear of clouds with the surface in sight, and maintain a certain flight visibility minimum (1,500 metres according toICAO, one statute mile in the US, 1,500 m visibility, in sight of surface and clear of cloud in Europe). The pilot continues to be responsible for obstacle and terrain clearance.[7]
(US) Weather minimums for SVFR are ground visibility of one statute mile (except helicopters) (when ground visibility is not reported, flight visibility of one statute mile) and clear of clouds. Operations must be conducted between sunrise and sunset (except helicopters and in Alaska). Flight under a SVFR clearance at night requires the pilot to have an instrument rating and the aircraft must be IFR equipped.[8]
An example of the use of SVFR is when a flight wishes to leave an airport in controlled airspace, to fly VFR inuncontrolled airspace, when the visibility is below the minimum for VFR flight in the control zone but not below the lower minimum for VFR flight in uncontrolled airspace. SVFR is never offered by Air Traffic Control. It must be requested by the Pilot in Command.