AeroSports Update: Sport Pilots; What Are Your Weather Minimums? | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Thu, Nov 19, 2015

AeroSports Update: Sport Pilots; What Are Your Weather Minimums?

The Rules For Sport Pilots Require Them To Fly In Safer Weather Conditions Than A Private Pilot

If you line up 10 sport pilots, or higher-rated pilots operating under sport pilot privileges and ask, “What are the minimum weather conditions you may fly in?” odds are that most of them will answer, “Sport pilots are only allowed to fly in VFR (visual flight rule) conditions.” If that’s the answer we get, the next question should be; “Are you sure?”

The best way to be sure is to look it up in the FARs. Far 61.315 states that sport pilots may not fly when the flight or surface visibility is less than three statute miles. Okay, isn’t three statute miles the same as VFR? The short answer is, not always. In Class G airspace (this is called uncontrolled airspace), below 10,000 feet above sea level, the minimum visibility for VFR flight is only one statute mile. Pilots operating under pilot privileges higher than sport pilot (private, commercial etc.) may fly VFR in Class G airspace with one mile visibility…sport pilots may not.

Another caveat for sport pilots is the use of a procedure called, “Special VFR.” Pilots operating under pilot privileges higher than sport pilot may fly into Class C and D airspace when the visibility is less than the VFR-required 3 statute miles by receiving a special VFR clearance. With this clearance, the visibility requirement drops to one statute mile. Once again, sport pilots must always have a visibility of three statute miles, so special VFR is a no-no for sport pilots.

Sport pilots are trained for simpler flight operations and the sport pilot limitations reflect this. It’s a case of the rules matching the mission. So, if you are operating as a sport pilot and are planning a flight with your flying pals from Class G airspace, your non sport pilot buddies can launch with only one statute mile visibility but, as a sport pilot, you can’t.

Look at it this way, you have to stay home and/or wait for better visibility. It could be argued that the sport pilot is better-off for this rule. Their departure in low visibility might be legal, but low visibility and “scud running” is a key contributor to accidents.

If you are exercising sport pilot privileges, no matter what pilot certificate you hold, you must follow sport pilot weather rules.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Final Report: Aviat A1

Airplane Bounced About 3 Ft Then Touched Back Down And Then, With No Brakes Applied, The Airplane Began Veering To The Left Analysis: The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.08.25)

Aero Linx: British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) The primary focus within all aviation activity is SAFETY. In all aspects of our sport SAFETY must come first, whether it b>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Fly Corvair’s Reliable Engine Alternative

From SnF25 (YouTube Edition): William Wynne Builds Practical Aircraft Engines on the Corvair Platform Seeking an affordable alternative to the traditional aircraft engine options, >[...]

ANN FAQ: Contributing To Aero-TV

How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: CiES Fuel-Quantity and e-Throttle Systems Praised

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Bridge of CiES CiES Inc. is a Bend, Oregon-based designer and manufacturer of modular embedded aircraft systems and sensors. The company’s fuel-l>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC