Special VFR Regulatory Requirements

Special VFR allows an aircraft to operate below 10,000 feet MSL within the lateral boundaries of controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport when ordinary VFR weather minimums cannot be met. 

It applies within Class B, C, D, and Class E surface areas. It is not available in Class G airspace, or ordinary Class E airspace beginning at 700 or 1,200 feet AGL.

The basic requirements are: 

• The pilot must request SVFR. 
• The pilot must receive an ATC clearance before entering, departing, or operating within the surface area. 
• The aircraft must remain clear of clouds. 
• The pilot must comply with the SVFR clearance and all other applicable regulations. 
• The pilot remains responsible for terrain and obstacle clearance. 
• Upon leaving the surface area, the flight must comply with the weather minimums applicable to the airspace entered. 

These requirements are principally contained in 14 CFR § 91.157. The basic VFR weather minimums that SVFR modifies are found in 14 CFR § 91.155. 

Section 91.155 normally prohibits VFR flight beneath a ceiling of less than 1,000 feet within controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport. It also generally requires at least three statute miles of visibility for takeoff, landing, or traffic-pattern operations within that airspace. 

ATC primarily determines whether the surface area is VFR or IFR using the weather reported at the airport for which the surface area is designated. 

This can produce a result that initially seems counterintuitive. If the airport reports a ceiling below 1,000 feet, SVFR is required to operate beneath that ceiling within the surface area—even if conditions near the edge of the surface area appear better. 

The reverse is also important. If the airport reports VFR but localized conditions prevent a pilot from maintaining basic VFR cloud clearances , the airport’s weather report does not authorize the pilot to continue through those conditions.

For all SVFR, The pilot must initiate the SVFR request. FAA Order JO 7110.65, paragraph 7-5-1 directs controllers to authorize SVFR: 

“Only when requested by the pilot.” 

A controller may report that the airport is IFR and ask for your intentions, but cannot offer or assign SVFR without your request. 

For example: 

“Olympia weather is below VFR minimums. Say intentions.” 

The pilot must then make the request: 

“NXXXAB requests special VFR.” 

ATC provides separation between SVFR aircraft and IFR traffic, as well as between aircraft operating under SVFR. However, SVFR is traffic-dependent and generally will not be approved when it delays an arriving or departing IFR aircraft. 

When used wisely, special VFR can be a very useful tool for helicopter pilots.