Can you legally fly VFR at 8,000 ft over a Class D zone on a hazy morning? The answer is a short table — three altitude bands × seven airspace classes × three numbers (flight visibility, horizontal distance from cloud, vertical distance from cloud). Once you know how to read the bands, the exam questions are free points.
The three altitude bands
The rules split all airspace into three vertical bands. Which band you're in is the first question to answer.
Band 1 — at or above 10,000 ft AMSL
- Flight visibility: 8 km
- Horizontal distance from cloud: 1,500 m
- Vertical distance from cloud: 300 m (1,000 ft)
Applies to classes B, C, D, E, F and G. The higher visibility requirement reflects the higher true airspeeds at altitude — you need to see further to react.
Band 2 — below 10,000 ft AMSL, above 3,000 ft AMSL (or 1,000 ft above terrain, whichever is higher)
- Flight visibility: 5 km
- Horizontal distance from cloud: 1,500 m
- Vertical distance from cloud: 300 m (1,000 ft)
Applies to classes B, C, D, E, F and G.
Band 3 — at or below 3,000 ft AMSL (or 1,000 ft above terrain, whichever is higher)
The low band splits by airspace class:
- Classes B, C, D, E: 5 km visibility, 1,500 m horizontal, 300 m vertical — same as Band 2.
- Classes F and G: 5 km visibility, clear of cloud and with the surface in sight. No fixed distances.
Where prescribed by the ATS authority, flight visibility in Class F/G may be reduced to 3 km for aircraft flown at a speed that gives adequate opportunity to see and avoid, and to 1.5 km (or in some cases 1 km) for helicopters. This is a local exemption, not a default.
Class A — the exception
VFR flight is not accepted in Class A airspace in India. The minima quoted in the table for Class A are shown "for guidance only" — they don't authorise a VFR flight into Class A. If you see a question asking what the VFR minima are in Class A, the answer is "VFR is not permitted" first, and the table values second.
Other VFR rules worth remembering
These aren't in the minima table but routinely appear on the same exam paper:
- Takeoff and landing at a controlled aerodrome: ceiling not less than 1,500 ft and ground visibility not less than 5 km (else a Special VFR clearance is needed).
- Period: VFR flights are operated from 20 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset. ATC may exempt local flights and flying-club training.
- Maximum level: VFR is not permitted above FL150 without ATS authorisation, and not at transonic or supersonic speeds.
- Distance from shoreline: not more than 100 nm seaward of the shoreline within controlled airspace, unless authorised.
- Low flying: unless taking off or landing, a VFR flight must not be flown lower than 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within 600 m horizontally over congested areas, or lower than 500 ft above ground or water elsewhere.
- Cruising levels: above 3,000 ft AGL, VFR must cruise at a level appropriate to the magnetic track from the table of cruising levels (semi-circular rule).
Special VFR
When actual weather is worse than VMC but an ATC clearance can be had, a Special VFR flight may operate within a control zone:
- Ground visibility ≥ 1,500 m for aircraft.
- Ground visibility ≥ 1,000 m for Performance Class I and II helicopters.
- The pilot must hold an instrument rating.
- ATC clearance is required and issued individually on request.
Special VFR is a concession, not a right — ATC may refuse when traffic or conditions don't permit.
Common mistakes
- Memorising only the 5 km number. The top band needs 8 km, not 5 km. If the altitude is above 10,000 ft AMSL, every visibility answer starts at 8.
- Forgetting the "1,000 ft above terrain" clause. Band 3 applies "at or below 3,000 ft AMSL or 1,000 ft above terrain, whichever is higher". Over high ground, Band 3 ends much higher than 3,000 ft AMSL.
- Applying Class F/G relaxed minima in controlled airspace. "Clear of cloud and with the surface in sight" is only permitted in Class F and G at low level — never in B/C/D/E.
- Confusing Special VFR with normal VFR. Special VFR requires an ATC clearance, an instrument rating, and works only inside a control zone. Normal VFR doesn't.
Why it matters
VFR minima questions are a reliable few marks on every DGCA Air Regulations paper — and getting them wrong in the air is the fastest way to bust VMC and end up in cloud on a VFR flight plan. The table is short; memorise it once and the exam questions become pattern recognition.