PS@MIT-MC@sri-unix (05/12/82)
PS@MIT-MC 05/11/82 22:50:00 Re: Special VFR in what kind of airspace
To: AVIATION at MIT-AI
Well, your friend from New Jersey is WRONG (what, the FAA
wrong, this is unheard of: he he..... just try calling Flight
Service for a forcast!)
>From the Gospel According to J. Lynn Helms:
FAR 91.107 Special VFR weather minimums.
(a) Except as provided in 91.113, when a person has
received an appropriate ATC clearance, the special weather
minimums of this section instead of those contained in 91.105
apply to the operation of an aircraft by that person in a
CONTROL ZONE under VFR.
(b) No person may operate an aircraft in a control
zone under VFR except clear of clouds.
(c) No person may operate an aircraft (other than
a helicopter) in a control zone under VFR unless flight
visibility is at least one mile.
(d) etc, etc.
Now, according to FAR 71.11 and 71.171, CONTROL ZONES extend
from the ground to the base of the CONTINENTAL CONTROL AREA
(14,500' except within 1,500' of the ground).
Now not all Control zones and all Airport Traffic Areas are
identical. The ATA is a cylinder 5 sm in radius (from the
geographic center of the airport) up to, but not including
3,000' above the airport. Control Zones TEND to be (but
not always) 5 sm in radius, but the also contain extentions
for aircraft to climb, and remain in controlled airspace.
Look at any sectional, and you will see that most Control
Zones air not a 5 sm radius circle around the airport.
Thus is you're 3000' above a controlled airport, and the
visibility is less than 3 miles, you're busting regs if
you don't have an IFR or a Special VFR clearance.
I hope this clarifies the issue.
Pete