| Airspace | Day/Night | Visibility | Cloud Clearance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class A | Day | Not applicable | Not applicable | |
| Class A | Night | Not applicable | Not applicable | |
| Class B | Day | 3 SM | Clear of clouds | |
| Class B | Night | 3 SM | Clear of clouds | |
| Class C | Day | 3 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class C | Night | 3 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class D | Day | 3 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class D | Night | 3 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class E (below 10,000 MSL) | Day | 3 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class E (below 10,000 MSL) | Night | 3 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class E (at/above 10,000 MSL) | Day | 5 SM | 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 SM horizontal | |
| Class E (at/above 10,000 MSL) | Night | 5 SM | 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 SM horizontal | |
| Class G (1,200 AGL or less) — airplane | Day | 1 SM | Clear of clouds | |
| Class G (1,200 AGL or less) — airplane | Night | 3 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class G (1,200 AGL or less) — helicopter | Day | 1/2 SM | Clear of clouds | |
| Class G (1,200 AGL or less) — helicopter | Night | 1 SM | Clear of clouds | |
| Class G (above 1,200 AGL, below 10,000 MSL) | Day | 1 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class G (above 1,200 AGL, below 10,000 MSL) | Night | 3 SM | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal | |
| Class G (above 1,200 AGL, at/above 10,000 MSL) | Day | 5 SM | 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 SM horizontal | |
| Class G (above 1,200 AGL, at/above 10,000 MSL) | Night | 5 SM | 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 SM horizontal |
Exceptions and surface-area rules — §91.155(b), (c) and (d)
Class A — §91.155(a):VFR flight is not authorized in Class A airspace; the table lists visibility and cloud clearance as “not applicable.”
Helicopters — §91.155(b)(1): in Class G airspace below 1,200 ft AGL, a helicopter may be operated clear of clouds in an airport traffic pattern within 1/2 mile of the runway or helipad of intended landing if the flight visibility is at least 1/2 SM.
Night traffic pattern — §91.155(b)(2): in Class G airspace below 1,200 ft AGL at night, an airplane, powered parachute, or weight-shift-control aircraft may be operated clear of clouds in an airport traffic pattern within 1/2 mile of the runway when the visibility is less than 3 SM but not less than 1 SM.
Ceiling below 1,000 ft — §91.155(c): except under a Special VFR clearance (§91.157), no one may operate an aircraft beneath the ceiling under VFR within the lateral boundaries of controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport when the ceiling is less than 1,000 ft.
Takeoff, landing and pattern entry — §91.155(d): except under Special VFR (§91.157), no one may take off, land, or enter the traffic pattern of an airport under VFR within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, C, D, or E airspace designated for an airport unless ground visibility is at least 3 SM — or, if ground visibility is not reported, unless flight visibility is at least 3 SM.
Source: 14 CFR 91.155 — Basic VFR Weather Minimums. Always verify current regulations before flight.
Understanding VFR weather minimums
14 CFR 91.155 defines the basic VFR weather minimums — the minimum flight visibility and distance from clouds required to fly VFR in each class of airspace. These minimums exist to ensure see-and-avoid separation between VFR and IFR traffic.
Class B airspace has the simplest requirement: 3 SM visibility and clear of clouds, because ATC provides separation. Class G uncontrolled airspace during the day below 1,200 AGL has the lowest minimums: just 1 SM and clear of clouds. At night or at higher altitudes, minimums increase.
The key trap is Class G above 1,200 AGL at night — many pilots assume uncontrolled airspace always has lower minimums, but night Class G requires 3 SM and standard cloud clearance (500 below, 1,000 above, 2,000 horizontal).
Cite this
PermalinkAeroCopilot — VFR Weather Minimums Chart. https://www.aerocopilot.ai/tools/vfr-weather-minimums.