Pilot Guidelines – Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

For a VFR flight in real life, you do not have to file a flightplan. In our virtual world however, a flightplan should always be filed.

VFR stands for Visual Flight Rules. The pilot must fly and navigate with visual reference to the surface. Due to this, there are certain weather criteria that must be met for a VFR flight to take place.

VFR flights are not permitted in Class A airspace, so there are no criteria.

There is no Class B airspace within the TN, so we will not explain the criteria.

VFR Flight in Class C, Class D and Class E airspace:

At or above FL100:

  • 1,500 metres horizontally away from cloud
  • 1,000ft vertically away from cloud
  • In flight visibility of at least 8km

Below FL100:

  • 1,500 metres horizontally away from cloud
  • 1,000ft vertically away from cloud
  • In flight visibility of at least 5km

An aircraft is deemed to have complied with the below FL100 restrictions if the aircraft is not a helicopter and:

  • it flies at or below 3,000ft amsl
  • it flies at a speed which is 140KIAS or less
  • remains clear of cloud, with the surface in sight and an in flight visibility of at least 5km

If it is a helicopter, it is deemed to have complied with the below FL100 restrictions if:

  • it flies at or below 3,000ft amsl
  • it remains clear of cloud, with the surface in sight and an in flight visibility of at least 1,500 metre

The following is a transcript of a VFR flight, TS-CCA, a Diamond DA40 from Carthage to Monastir via the FIR:

TSCCA:
Carthage, good morning, TSCCA, Diamond DA40 with Zulu, stand in general aviation Parking, request start up for VFR flight to Monastir, ready to copy the clearance.

DTTA_TWR:

TSCCA, Carthage, good morning, information Zulu is correct, squawk 0057,start up approved QNH1004, report when ready for departure.

TSCCA:
Carthage, good morning, TSCCA, startup approved squawk 0057. Ready to taxi.

DTTA_TWR:

TSCCA, taxi via APRON A to runway 01, report when ready for departure.

TSCCA:
Taxi to runway 01 via APRON A, report when ready for departure, TSCCA.

Our flight continues:

TSCCA:

Carthage Tower, TSCCA holding point A runway 01, ready for departure.DTTA_TWR:
TSCCA, line up runway 01.

TSCCA:
Line up runway 01, TSCCA.

DTTA_TWR:
TSCCA,  cleared for take-off,  wind 018 degrees 12 knots.

TSCCA:
cleared for take-off, TSCCA

DTTA_TWR:

TSCCA, Contact Carthage Radar, 121.200.TSCCA:
Carthage Radar on 121.200, good day, TSCCA.

—

TSCCA:
Carthage Radar, Good morning, TSCCA.

DTTA_APP:
TSCCA, Carthage Radar, hello, radar identified. Proceed as filed.

TSCCA:
we proceed as filed, TSCCA

—

DTNZ_APP:
TSCCA, contact Enfidha Radar 119.300

TSCCA:
Continue with Enfidha Radar 119.300, TSCCA.

—

TSCCA:
Enfidha Radar, good morning, TSCCA, information A.

DTNZ_APP:
TSCCA, Enfidha Radar, pass your details.

TSCCA:
TSCCA, is a Diamond DA40, Carthage to Monastir, Currently overhead Hammamet.

DTNZ_APP:
TSCCA, report on BN.

TSCCA:
Report on BN, TSCCA.

—

TSCCA:
Reaching BN, TSCCA.

DTNZ_APP:
TSCCA, contact Monastir Tower on 118.300.

TSCCA:
Monastir Tower on 118.300, TSCCA.

—

TSCCA:
Monastir Tower good morning, TSCCA with information A.

DTMB_TWR:
TSCCA, Monastir Tower, information A is correct, pass your message.

TSCCA:
TSCCA is a Diamond DA40, inbound to Monastir. Overhead BN, 1500ft, request pattern entry instructions.

DTMB_TWR:
TSCCA, roger, enter the right hand downwind for runway 07, not above altitude 1,500ft QNH1007, report downwind.

TSCCA:
Enter Right hand downwind runway 07, not above altitude 1500ft, QNH1007, will report downwind, TSCCA.

—

TSCCA:
TSCCA, Downwind, runway 07.

DTTA_TWR:
TSCCA, Roger, you are Number 2 to a Boeing 737 on a 4 mile final. , report final.

TSCCA:
Traffic in sight, will report final, TSCCA.

TSCCA:
TSCCA, Final runway 07.

DTMB_TWR:
TSCCA, last winds 080°, 8 knots, cleared to land runway 07.

TSCCA:
Cleared to land, TSCCA.

—

DTMB_TWR:
TSCCA, Taxi to General Aviation Parking.

TSCCA:
Taxi to General Aviation Parking, TSCCA.