Comments on: VFR Flight Above the Clouds http://www.aviationchatter.com/2009/06/vfr-flight-above-the-clouds/ Exercise Your License to Learn Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:35:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JB Pilot http://www.aviationchatter.com/2009/06/vfr-flight-above-the-clouds/comment-page-1/#comment-6803 JB Pilot Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:39:17 +0000 http://www.aviationchatter.com/?p=1234#comment-6803 Very enlightening post, Pat! I guess that puts the whole "to fly or not to fly above the cloud" argument to rest, now that you've quoted FAA rules. Very enlightening post, Pat! I guess that puts the whole “to fly or not to fly above the cloud” argument to rest, now that you’ve quoted FAA rules.

]]> By: Ellyanna http://www.aviationchatter.com/2009/06/vfr-flight-above-the-clouds/comment-page-1/#comment-6350 Ellyanna Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:22:05 +0000 http://www.aviationchatter.com/?p=1234#comment-6350 I bow down humbly in the presence of such grentases. I bow down humbly in the presence of such grentases.

]]> By: Patrick Flannigan http://www.aviationchatter.com/2009/06/vfr-flight-above-the-clouds/comment-page-1/#comment-2073 Patrick Flannigan Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:28:48 +0000 http://www.aviationchatter.com/?p=1234#comment-2073 From what I understand, the European airspace system is far more restrictive for VFR pilots than ours in the US. Thanks for the comment Sylvia. From what I understand, the European airspace system is far more restrictive for VFR pilots than ours in the US. Thanks for the comment Sylvia.

]]> By: Sylvia http://www.aviationchatter.com/2009/06/vfr-flight-above-the-clouds/comment-page-1/#comment-2072 Sylvia Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:23:49 +0000 http://www.aviationchatter.com/?p=1234#comment-2072 Another one here: http://www.fearoflanding.com/flying/i-learned-from-that/vmc-on-top/ UK no longer allows VFR on top although I've been told not to worry about it as long as the clouds are gappy so you have a view of the ground every few minutes. On the other hand, I've been caught over the clouds once (flying in from France, where it is allowed ... but the clouds went solid and low over the channel) and London Info were very helpful with weather reports so that I knew my destination had clear skies. Another one here:
http://www.fearoflanding.com/flying/i-learned-from-that/vmc-on-top/

UK no longer allows VFR on top although I’ve been told not to worry about it as long as the clouds are gappy so you have a view of the ground every few minutes.

On the other hand, I’ve been caught over the clouds once (flying in from France, where it is allowed … but the clouds went solid and low over the channel) and London Info were very helpful with weather reports so that I knew my destination had clear skies.

]]> By: Patrick Flannigan http://www.aviationchatter.com/2009/06/vfr-flight-above-the-clouds/comment-page-1/#comment-2067 Patrick Flannigan Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:46:24 +0000 http://www.aviationchatter.com/?p=1234#comment-2067 Thanks for sharing. Seems like everybody has a story about getting stuck on top at some time or another. Wonder how often ATC has to help a VFR guy down. Thanks for sharing. Seems like everybody has a story about getting stuck on top at some time or another. Wonder how often ATC has to help a VFR guy down.

]]> By: Jeffrey Synk http://www.aviationchatter.com/2009/06/vfr-flight-above-the-clouds/comment-page-1/#comment-2062 Jeffrey Synk Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:50:39 +0000 http://www.aviationchatter.com/?p=1234#comment-2062 Good points! Especially the last paragraph. I remember when I was in flight training at FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach when we had to wear wool pants and white collared shirts even in the humid heat of summer. I was finishing my long cross-country for my commercial rating. I had just stopped off in Daytona Beach for fuel before I was going to continue on to Vero Beach. It was really hot in that Cherokee so I decided to climb above the clouds and instantly got disoriented. I was particularly concerned because of the NASA Space Shuttle landing facility was off to my left and didn't really want to accidently fly into their airspace. The radio was full of chatter so I just started circling. A great controller asked if I needed any help and I admitted, "Yeah." He got me down through some patchy clouds. What a relief! He was then kind enough to ask if I wanted to do the Shuttle tour. Again, I said, "Yeah!" He vectored me towards the Space Shuttle landing strip, coordinated with NASA tower and I got to fly over it before continuing onto Vero Beach. Anyway, like Pat says, you can fly VFR on top, just be safe! Great post Pat! Regards, Jeffrey Good points! Especially the last paragraph.

I remember when I was in flight training at FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach when we had to wear wool pants and white collared shirts even in the humid heat of summer. I was finishing my long cross-country for my commercial rating. I had just stopped off in Daytona Beach for fuel before I was going to continue on to Vero Beach. It was really hot in that Cherokee so I decided to climb above the clouds and instantly got disoriented. I was particularly concerned because of the NASA Space Shuttle landing facility was off to my left and didn’t really want to accidently fly into their airspace.

The radio was full of chatter so I just started circling.

A great controller asked if I needed any help and I admitted, “Yeah.” He got me down through some patchy clouds. What a relief! He was then kind enough to ask if I wanted to do the Shuttle tour. Again, I said, “Yeah!” He vectored me towards the Space Shuttle landing strip, coordinated with NASA tower and I got to fly over it before continuing onto Vero Beach.

Anyway, like Pat says, you can fly VFR on top, just be safe!

Great post Pat!

Regards,

Jeffrey

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