Visual flight rules
Visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of
aviation regulations under which a
pilot may operate an
aircraft, if weather conditions are sufficient to allow the pilot to visually control the aircraft's
attitude, navigate, and maintain separation with obstacles such as terrain and other aircraft.
Pilots flying under VFR assume responsibility for their separation from all other aircraft and are generally not assigned routes or altitudes by
ATC. They fly on their own using a "see and avoid" separation criteria. In busier controlled airspace, VFR aircraft are required to have a
transponder. Governing agencies establish strict VFR "weather minima" for visibility, distance from clouds, and altitude to ensure that VFR pilots can be seen from a far enough distance.
In certain airspace, VFR aircraft will be separated by ATC from all other aircraft or just from
IFR aircraft. In other airspace, ATC will only give VFR aircraft traffic information in respect of other aircraft and will leave the separation up to the pilots.
The minimum
meteorological requirements for VFR are called
visual meteorological conditions (VMC) minima. If they are not met then the flight must be flown under
IFR, the pilot must have an
instrument rating and meet recency of experience requirements pertaining to instrument flight, and the aircraft must be equipped and type-certified for instrument flight. In some types of airspace, generally at higher
altitudes, a flight must be flown under IFR regardless of the meteorological conditions, as aircraft fly at high speeds at higher altitudes and the "see and avoid" method of avoiding conflicting traffic is less successful.
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Instrument flight rules (IFR)
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Controlled Visual Flight Rules*
Special visual flight rules
