Section 5. Special VFR (SVFR)

7-5-1. AUTHORIZATION

  1. SVFR operations in weather conditions less than basic VFR minima are authorized:
    1. At any location not prohibited by 14 CFR part 91, Appendix D or when an exemption to 14 CFR part 91 has been granted and an associated LOA established. 14 CFR part 91 does not prohibit SVFR helicopter operations.
    2. Powered‐lift aircraft, for the purposes of SVFR operations contained in this section, must be handled as helicopters.
    3. Only within the lateral boundaries of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface areas, below 10,000 feet MSL. SVFR is not authorized within Class E extension areas.
    4. Only when requested by the pilot.
    5. On the basis of weather conditions reported at the airport for which the surface area is designated.
    6. When weather conditions are not reported at the airport of intended landing/departure and the pilot advises that VFR cannot be maintained and requests SVFR.
  2. Do not authorize VFR operations beneath a broken or overcast ceiling within a surface area when the reported ceiling at the primary airport is less than 1,000 feet. A Special VFR clearance is required.
  3. SVFR operations may be authorized for aircraft operating in or transiting a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area when the primary airport is reporting VFR but the pilot advises that basic VFR cannot be maintained.

7-5-2. PRIORITY

  1. SVFR flights may be approved only if arriving and departing IFR aircraft are not delayed.
  2. Inform an aircraft of the anticipated delay when a SVFR clearance cannot be granted because of IFR traffic. Do not issue an EFC or expected departure time.

7-5-3. SEPARATION

  1. Apply nonradar or visual separation between:
    1. SVFR fixed-wing aircraft.
    2. SVFR fixed-wing aircraft and SVFR Helicopters.
    3. SVFR fixed-wing aircraft and IFR aircraft.
  2. Apply nonradar, visual, or IFR radar separation between:
    1. SVFR Helicopters.
    2. SVFR Helicopters and IFR aircraft.
  3. Alternate SVFR helicopter separation minima may be established when warranted by the volume and/or complexity of local helicopter operations. Alternate SVFR helicopter separation minima must be established with an LOA with the helicopter operator which must specify, as a minimum, that SVFR helicopters are to maintain visual reference to the surface and adhere to the following aircraft separation minima:
    1. Between a SVFR helicopter and an arriving or departing IFR aircraft:
      1. 1/2 mile. If the IFR aircraft is less than 1 mile from the landing airport.
      2. 1 mile. If the IFR aircraft is 1 mile or more from the airport.
    2. 1 mile between SVFR helicopters. This separation may be reduced to 200 feet if:
      1. Both helicopters are departing simultaneously on courses that diverge by at least 30 degrees and:
        1. The tower can determine this separation by reference to surface markings; or
        2. One of the departing helicopters is instructed to remain at least 200 feet from the other.

7-5-4. ALTITUDE ASSIGNMENT

Do not assign a fixed altitude when applying vertical separation, but clear the SVFR aircraft at or below an altitude which is at least 500 feet below any conflicting IFR traffic but not below the MSA prescribed in 14 CFR section 91.119.

7-5-5. LOCAL OPERATIONS

  1. Authorize local SVFR operations for a specified period (series of landings and takeoffs, etc.) upon request if the aircraft can be recalled when traffic or weather conditions require. Where warranted, LOAs may be consummated.
  2. Control facilities may also authorize an FSS to transmit SVFR clearances so that only one aircraft at a time operates in the Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface areas unless pilots agree that they will maintain visual separation with other aircraft operating in the Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface areas. Such authorization concerning visual separation by pilots must be contained in a LOA between the control facility and the FSS.

7-5-6. CLIMB TO VFR

Authorize an aircraft to climb to VFR upon request if the only weather limitation is restricted visibility.

7-5-7. GROUND VISIBILITY BELOW 1 MILE

14 CFR part 91 does not prohibit helicopter SVFR flight when the visibility is less than 1 mile. Treat requests for SVFR fixed‐wing operations as follows when the ground visibility is officially reported at an airport as less than 1 mile:

  1. Inform departing aircraft that ground visibility is less than 1 mile and that a clearance cannot be issued.
  2. Inform arriving aircraft, operating outside of a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area, that ground visibility is less than 1 mile and that, unless an emergency exists, a clearance cannot be issued.
  3. Inform arriving aircraft, operating VFR/SVFR within a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area, that ground visibility is less than 1 mile and request the pilot to advise intentions.
  4. Authorize scheduled air carrier aircraft in the U.S. to conduct operations if ground visibility is not less than 1/2 statute mile.
  5. Clear an aircraft to fly through the Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area if the aircraft reports flight visibility is at least 1 statute mile.

7-5-8. FLIGHT VISIBILITY BELOW 1 MILE

Treat requests for SVFR fixed‐wing operations as follows when weather conditions are not reported at an airport and the pilot advises the flight visibility is less than 1 mile:

  1. Inform departing aircraft that a clearance cannot be issued.
  2. Inform arriving aircraft operating outside of a Class B, Class C, Class D or Class E surface area that a clearance cannot be issued unless an emergency exists.
  3. Request the intentions of an arriving aircraft operating within a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area.