Basic VFR weather minimums14 CFR 91.155 Basic VFR weather minimums
To fly VFR you need a minimum flight visibility and a minimum distance from clouds, and both depend on the airspace class and your altitude. The most common set is 3 statute miles visibility and 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds.
By the ATIS Alerts team · Updated October 15, 2026 · Regulation text current as of October 14, 2026. A study aid based on the official regulation text, not legal advice or an FAA interpretation.
At a glance
- Class B: 3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds (a).
- Class C, Class D and Class E below 10,000 feet MSL: 3 statute miles, 500 below, 1,000 above, 2,000 horizontal (a).
- Class E at or above 10,000 feet MSL: 5 statute miles, 1,000 below, 1,000 above, 1 statute mile horizontal (a).
- Class G at or below 1,200 feet above the surface, airplanes by day: 1 statute mile and clear of clouds (a).
- Inside an airport's surface area: no VFR beneath a ceiling below 1,000 feet (c), and 3 statute miles ground visibility (flight visibility if ground visibility is not reported) to take off, land or enter the pattern (d).
In plain English
Section 91.155 is the table most pilots memorize first. Paragraph (a) sets a flight visibility and a cloud clearance for each class of airspace. Class A has no VFR minimums because VFR flight is not allowed there. Class B is the simplest: 3 statute miles and clear of clouds. Class C, Class D and Class E below 10,000 feet MSL share the familiar 3 miles with 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds.
Higher up the minimums grow. In Class E at or above 10,000 feet MSL you need 5 statute miles of visibility and 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above and 1 statute mile horizontal, because airplanes are faster there and have less time to see each other.
Class G is the most relaxed and the most detailed. At or below 1,200 feet above the surface an airplane needs only 1 statute mile and clear of clouds by day, but 3 miles with the standard cloud clearances at night. Paragraph (b)(2) adds an exception: at night, with at least 1 mile visibility, an airplane may fly clear of clouds in an airport traffic pattern within 1/2 mile of the runway.
Paragraphs (c) and (d) add the airport rules. Under VFR you may not fly beneath the ceiling inside controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport when the ceiling is below 1,000 feet, and you may not take off, land or enter the traffic pattern in a Class B, C, D or E surface area unless the ground visibility is at least 3 statute miles, or, if ground visibility is not reported, the flight visibility is at least 3 statute miles. When those numbers are not met, one option is a special VFR clearance under 91.157.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up Class B and Class C: Class B is clear of clouds, Class C keeps the 500/1,000/2,000 clearances.
- Forgetting that the 10,000-foot change in Class E is measured in feet MSL, while the Class G 1,200-foot line is measured above the surface.
- Reading the Class G day minimum (1 mile, clear of clouds) as a night minimum. At night it becomes 3 miles with the standard clearances.
The official text
14 CFR 91.155 as published on the eCFR, current as of October 14, 2026.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and § 91.157, no person may operate an aircraft under VFR when the flight visibility is less, or at a distance from clouds that is less, than that prescribed for the corresponding altitude and class of airspace in the following table:
| Airspace | Flight visibility | Distance from clouds |
|---|---|---|
Class A | Not Applicable | Not Applicable. |
Class B | 3 statute miles | Clear of Clouds. |
Class C | 3 statute miles | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal. |
Class D | 3 statute miles | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal. |
| Class E: | ||
Less than 10,000 feet MSL | 3 statute miles | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal. |
At or above 10,000 feet MSL | 5 statute miles | 1,000 feet below 1,000 feet above 1 statute mile horizontal. |
| Class G: | ||
| 1,200 feet or less above the surface (regardless of MSL altitude) | ||
| For aircraft other than helicopters: | ||
Day, except as provided in § 91.155(b) | 1 statute mile | Clear of clouds. |
Night, except as provided in § 91.155(b) | 3 statute miles | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal. |
| For helicopters: | ||
Day | 1⁄2 statute mile | Clear of clouds |
Night, except as provided in § 91.155(b) | 1 statute mile | Clear of clouds. |
| More than 1,200 feet above the surface but less than 10,000 feet MSL | ||
Day | 1 statute mile | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal. |
Night | 3 statute miles | 500 feet below 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet horizontal. |
More than 1,200 feet above the surface and at or above 10,000 feet MSL | 5 statute miles | 1,000 feet below 1,000 feet above 1 statute mile horizontal. |
(b) Class G Airspace. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, the following operations may be conducted in Class G airspace below 1,200 feet above the surface:
(1) Helicopter. A helicopter may be operated clear of clouds in an airport traffic pattern within 1/2 mile of the runway or helipad of intended landing if the flight visibility is not less than 1/2 statute mile.
(2) Airplane, powered parachute, or weight-shift-control aircraft. If the visibility is less than 3 statute miles but not less than 1 statute mile during night hours and you are operating in an airport traffic pattern within 1/2 mile of the runway, you may operate an airplane, powered parachute, or weight-shift-control aircraft clear of clouds.
(c) Except as provided in § 91.157, no person may operate an aircraft beneath the ceiling under VFR within the lateral boundaries of controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport when the ceiling is less than 1,000 feet.
(d) Except as provided in § 91.157 of this part, no person may take off or land an aircraft, or enter the traffic pattern of an airport, under VFR, within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport—
(1) Unless ground visibility at that airport is at least 3 statute miles; or
(2) If ground visibility is not reported at that airport, unless flight visibility during landing or takeoff, or while operating in the traffic pattern is at least 3 statute miles.
(e) For the purpose of this section, an aircraft operating at the base altitude of a Class E airspace area is considered to be within the airspace directly below that area.
Test yourself
Practice questions from our free FAA written test prep that cite 14 CFR 91.155.
Sport Pilot
What are the basic VFR weather minimums in Class B airspace?
- A. 3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds.
- B. 3 statute miles visibility; 500 below, 1,000 above, 2,000 horizontal.
- C. 1 statute mile visibility and clear of clouds.
- D. 5 statute miles visibility; 1,000 below, 1,000 above, 1 statute mile horizontal.
Show answer
A. 3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds. In Class B the basic VFR minimums are 3 SM and clear of clouds, rather than the 500 below, 1,000 above, 2,000 horizontal required in Class C, D, and E below 10,000 MSL, because ATC separates every aircraft inside. You still need an ATC clearance to enter, and a sport pilot also needs the 61.325 endorsement.
More Sport Pilot practice →Recreational Pilot
Under 14 CFR 91.155, what minimum flight visibility applies to an airplane in Class G airspace during the day, at or below 1,200 feet AGL?
- A. 1 statute mile.
- B. 2 statute miles.
- C. 5 statute miles.
- D. 1/2 statute mile.
Show answer
A. 1 statute mile. Day Class G at or below 1,200 AGL requires 1 SM and clear of clouds for an airplane (the 1/2 SM figure applies only to helicopters). Note that a recreational pilot may still not fly with less than 3 SM: the certificate limit in 61.101(e)(9) is stricter than the airspace limit.
More Recreational Pilot practice →Commercial Pilot
At and above 10,000 feet MSL (and more than 1,200 feet AGL) in controlled airspace, VFR minimums are:
- A. 5 statute miles visibility; 1,000 below, 1,000 above, 1 statute mile horizontal.
- B. 3 statute miles visibility; 500 below, 1,000 above, 2,000 horizontal.
- C. 5 statute miles visibility; 500 below, 1,000 above, 2,000 horizontal.
- D. 3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds.
Show answer
A. 5 statute miles visibility; 1,000 below, 1,000 above, 1 statute mile horizontal. The 10,000-foot break exists because aircraft may exceed 250 knots above it, so more room is needed to see and avoid. The "111" pattern, 1,000, 1,000, 1 mile, with 5 SM visibility is the result.
More Commercial Pilot practice →Private Helicopter
During the day in Class G airspace at or below 1,200 feet AGL, a helicopter may be operated with a flight visibility of:
- A. 1/2 statute mile, remaining clear of clouds.
- B. 1 statute mile, remaining clear of clouds.
- C. 3 statute miles with 500/1,000/2,000-foot cloud clearances.
- D. no visibility minimum, provided the surface is in sight.
Show answer
A. 1/2 statute mile, remaining clear of clouds. Helicopters get their own Class G row in 91.155: 1/2 SM and clear of clouds by day, 1 SM and clear of clouds at night. The 1-SM day figure is the airplane rule: a classic crossover trap for transitioning pilots.
More Private Helicopter practice →
Questions pilots ask
What are the VFR minimums in Class D airspace?
3 statute miles flight visibility and 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds (91.155(a)). To take off, land or enter the pattern under VFR you also need a ceiling of at least 1,000 feet and 3 miles ground visibility, or 3 miles flight visibility if ground visibility is not reported (91.155(c) and (d)).
Can I fly VFR when the ceiling is below 1,000 feet?
Not beneath the ceiling inside controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport (91.155(c)), unless ATC issues a special VFR clearance under 91.157. Outside those surface areas the cloud clearance rules in the table still apply.
What changes at 10,000 feet MSL?
In Class E airspace the minimums rise to 5 statute miles visibility and 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above and 1 statute mile horizontal from clouds (91.155(a)).