Section 5. Special VFR Operation
4-5-1. AUTHORIZATION
a. Special VFR (SVFR) operations in weather
conditions less than VFR minima are authorized:
1. For helicopters and fixed瓀ing aircraft at any
location not prohibited by 14 CFR Part 91,
Appendix D, Section 3, or when an exception to
14 CFR Part 91, Appendix D, Section 3, has been
granted and an associated letter of agreement
established.
REFERENCE-
14 CFR Part 91, Appendix D, Section 3, Locations at which fixed瓀ing
Special VFR operations are prohibited.
2. Only within surface areas.
3. Only when requested by the pilot.
b. When the primary airport is reporting VFR,
SVFR operations may be authorized for aircraft
transiting surface areas when the pilot advises the
inability to maintain VFR.
NOTE-
Control facilities must always retain SVFR operations
authority when IFR operations are being conducted in
surface areas.
4-5-2. REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL VFR
CLEARANCE
a. Transmit SVFR clearances only for operations
within surface areas on the basis of weather
conditions. If weather conditions are not reported,
transmit an SVFR clearance whenever a pilot advises
unable to maintain VFR and requests an SVFR
clearance, provided the pilot reports having at least
1璵ile flight visibility.
PHRASEOLOGY-
ATC CLEARS (aircraft identification) TO ENTER/OUT
OF/THROUGH (name) SURFACE AREA
and if required,
(direction) OF (name) AIRPORT (specified routing), and
MAINTAIN SPECIAL V璅璕 CONDITIONS,
and if required,
AT OR BELOW (altitude below 10,000 feet MSL),
ATC CLEARS (aircraft identification) (coded arrival or
departure procedure) ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE,
(additional instructions as required).
b. Transmit clearance for local SVFR operations
for a specified period (series of takeoffs and landings,
etc.) upon request if the aircraft can be recalled when
traffic or weather conditions require. Letters of
agreement may be established.
PHRASEOLOGY-
LOCAL SPECIAL V璅璕 OPERATIONS IN THE
IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF (name) AIRPORT ARE
AUTHORIZED UNTIL (time). MAINTAIN SPECIAL
V璅璕 CONDITIONS.
c. If an aircraft operating under visual flight rules
attempts to enter, depart, or operate within surface
areas contrary to the provisions of 14 CFR Section
91.157 (visual flight rules), ensure the pilot is aware
of the current weather conditions. Provide the
following information:
1. At airports with commissioned automated
weather with continuous automated voice capability,
instruct the pilot to monitor the automated broadcast
and advise intentions.
PHRASEOLOGY-
MONITOR (location) AUTOMATED WEATHER
(frequency). ADVISE INTENTIONS.
2. At airports without a commissioned
automated weather, or, if the pilot is unable to receive
the automated weather broadcast, issue the most
current weather report available. Advise the pilot that
the weather is below VFR minima, and request the
pilot's intentions.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Location) WEATHER, CEILING (height), VISIBILITY
(miles). (Location) SURFACE AREA IS BELOW V璅璕
MINIMA. AN ATC CLEARANCE IS REQUIRED.
ADVISE INTENTIONS.
NOTE-
Helicopters performing hover taxiing operations
(normally not above 10 feet) within the boundary of the
airport are considered to be taxiing aircraft.
d. At a pilot's request, issue a SVFR clearance, if
appropriate, when a SVFR letter of agreement exists
between an FSS and the control facility. If no
agreement exists, request clearance from the control
facility. State the aircraft's location and route of
flight.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Facility name) RADIO. REQUEST SPECIAL V璅璕
CLEARANCE (aircraft identification) (direction) OF
(location) AIRPORT (specified routing) TO ENTER/OUT
OF/THROUGH (name) AIRPORT (specified routing).
NOTE-
IFR aircraft normally have priority over SVFR aircraft.
1. If the pilot is operating outside surface area
and requests SVFR clearance, issue the clearance or
if unable, advise the pilot to maintain VFR outside
surface area and to standby for clearance.
PHRASEOLOGY-
MAINTAIN V璅璕 OUTSIDE (location) SURFACE
AREA. STANDBY FOR CLEARANCE.
2. When an aircraft requests a SVFR clearance
to enter surface area during periods of SVFR activity,
instruct the pilot to maintain VFR conditions outside
surface area pending arrival/recall/departure of
SVFR operations.
PHRASEOLOGY-
MAINTAIN V璅璕 CONDITIONS OUTSIDE OF THE
(location) SURFACE AREA PENDING
ARRIVAL/RECALL/DEPARTURE OF IFR/SPECIAL
V璅璕 AIRCRAFT.
3. If the pilot is operating inside the surface area
and requests an SVFR clearance, advise the pilot to
maintain VFR and standby for clearance.
PHRASEOLOGY-
MAINTAIN V璅璕. STANDBY FOR CLEARANCE.
e. Suspend SVFR operations when necessary to
comply with instructions contained in subpara 4b
or when requested by the control facility.
PHRASEOLOGY-
SPECIAL V璅璕 AUTHORIZATION DISCONTINUED.
RETURN TO AIRPORT OR DEPART SURFACE AREA.
ADVISE INTENTIONS.
After response:
REPORT LANDING COMPLETED/CLEAR SURFACE
AREA.
4-5-3. VISIBILITY BELOW 1 MILE
a. When the ground visibility is officially reported
at an airport as less than 1 mile, treat requests for
SVFR operations at that airport by other than
helicopters as follows:
NOTE-
14 CFR Part 91 does not prohibit helicopter Special VFR
flights when visibility is less than 1 mile.
1. Inform departing aircraft that ground visibility is less than 1 mile and that a clearance cannot be
issued.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Location) VISIBILITY (value). A璗瑿 UNABLE TO
ISSUE DEPARTURE CLEARANCE.
2. Inform arriving aircraft operating outside of
the surface area that ground visibility is less than
1 mile and, unless an emergency exists, a clearance
cannot be issued.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Location) VISIBILITY (value). A璗瑿 UNABLE TO
ISSUE ENTRY CLEARANCE UNLESS AN
EMERGENCY EXISTS.
3. Inform arriving aircraft operating within the
surface area that ground visibility is less than 1 mile
and request the pilot's intentions. Relay the pilot's
response to the control facility immediately.
PHRASEOLOGY-
(Location) VISIBILITY (value). ADVISE INTENTIONS.
b. When weather conditions are not officially
reported at an airport and the pilot advises the flight
visibility is less than 1 mile, treat request for SVFR
operations at that airport by other than helicopters as
follows:
NOTE-
14 CFR Part 91 prescribes use of officially reported
ground visibility as the governing ground visibility for
VFR and SVFR operations at airports where it is provided
and landing or takeoff flight visibility where it is not.
1. Inform departing aircraft that a clearance
cannot be issued.
PHRASEOLOGY-
UNABLE TO ISSUE DEPARTURE CLEARANCE.
2. Inform arriving aircraft operating outside the
surface area that unless an emergency exists, a
clearance cannot be issued.
PHRASEOLOGY-
ATC UNABLE TO ISSUE ENTRY CLEARANCE UNLESS
AN EMERGENCY EXISTS.
3. Request intentions of arriving aircraft
operating within surface areas. Relay the pilot's
response to the control facility immediately.
PHRASEOLOGY-
ADVISE INTENTIONS.
c. Transmit a clearance to scheduled air carrier
aircraft to conduct operations if ground visibility is
not less than 1/2 mile.
d. Transmit a clearance to an aircraft to fly through
surface area if the pilot reports flight visibility is at
least 1 statute mile.
4-5-4. PREDESIGNED SPECIAL VFR
CLEARANCES
Transmit predesigned SVFR clearances only during
those periods authorized by the control facility.
NOTE-
The control facility may rescind this authorization at any
time.
a. Apply these procedures only to aircraft
equipped with a functioning two瓀ay radio. Refer all
requests for no璻adio SVFR operations to the control
facility.
b. Transmit clearances so that only one aircraft at
a time operates in surface area unless:
1. Otherwise authorized by a letter of agreement
between the control facility and the FSS.
2. A pilot requests and all pilots agree that they
will maintain visual separation while operating in
surface area.
PHRASEOLOGY-
MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION FROM (aircraft type).
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