VFR over-the-top (OTT) refers to flying over top of clouds in visual flight, rather than with reference to instruments. This is usually done for brief amount of time to avoid weather or turbulence.

Regulations

Each nation has specific and often different rules that govern when a pilot is permitted to fly VFR OTT. Most countries have requirements that specify weather minima, aircraft equipment and pilot qualifications. In some countries pilots are required to get an

air traffic control Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airs ...

(ATC) clearance, or in absence of a controller, advise the nearest

flight service station A flight service station (FSS) is an air traffic facility that provides information and services to aircraft pilots before, during, and after flights, but unlike air traffic control (ATC), is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances or ...

or center. Pilots are required to adhere to VFR minima when climbing and descending over the clouds. Flight in cloud is not permitted.

National differences

The rules for flying VFR OTT vary greatly from country to country. Some rules, such as those contained in the US

Federal Aviation Regulations The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governing all aviation activities in the United States. The FARs comprise Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). A wide variety o ...

, are less restrictive. Others, such as the Canadian VFR OTT regulations contained in the

Canadian Aviation Regulations The Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) are the rules that govern civil aviation in Canada. Establishment The CARs became law on October 10, 1996, replacing the former Air Regulations and Air Navigation Orders. The authority for the establishme ...

, have more regulations to comply with.

United States

The US rules require the aircraft to be fitted with the instruments required for IFR flight, and student pilots and sport pilots must maintain visual reference with the surface. Other operations (such as commercial, turbine powered, and fractional ownership) include special limitations. (Note that 14 CFR 91.507 applies only to fractional operations; see 91.501.)

Canada

The Canadian rules specify that an aircraft may be operated in VFR OTT flight during the cruise portion of the flight during the day, at a vertical distance from clouds of at least 1000 feet. When the aircraft is operated between two cloud layers, the vertical distance between the layers must be at least 5000 feet. The flight visibility at the cruising altitude of the aircraft must be at least 5 miles and the weather at the destination aerodrome must be forecast to have a sky condition of scattered cloud or better, a ground visibility of 5 miles or greater with no forecast of precipitation, fog, thunderstorm or blowing snow, and that these conditions must be forecast to exist for one hour before to two hours after the estimated time of arrival when a terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF) is available or from one hour before to three hours after the estimated time of arrival if a TAF is not available. The VFR OTT rating requires ground training and a minimum of 15 hours of instrument training, 5 of those can be in a simulator. Commercial pilots automatically receive the OTT rating.

Germany

In Germany VFR OTT (Flüge nach Sichtflugregeln über Wolkendecken) is allowed and regulated in §32 LuftVO. The requirements are: # minimum height of above ground or water, minimum weather requirements for airspace E met # pilot is capable of keeping the planned course # approach and landing at destination in

visual meteorological conditions In aviation, visual meteorological conditions (VMC) is an aviation flight category in which visual flight rules (VFR) flight is permitted—that is, conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual sep ...

(VMC) # pilot possesses radiotelephony license Additionally the aircraft must be equipped with a VOR receiver or basic RNAV equipment.§ 4 air traffic control equipment for operations under visual flight rules
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References

External links

Canadian VFR OTT rules – CAR 602.116

US FAA VFR rules – FAR 91.155
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vfr Over-The-Top Aircraft operations