Application — Annex 2 / SERA
The rules of the air are the "traffic code" of aviation: they say who gives way, when you may fly by visual reference, and how high you must be. Internationally they come from ICAO Annex 2; in Europe they are made directly binding by the SERA regulation. This lesson explains how the two fit together and defines the basic terms — VFR, IFR, VMC, IMC, ceiling — that everything else in Air Law builds on.
ICAO Annex 2 — Rules of the Air
ICAO Annex 2 Rules of the Air contains the standard traffic rules for international aviation. Over the high seas its rules apply without exception; over a State's territory, the State's own rules of the air apply (which normally follow Annex 2 closely).
Key definitions
These definitions must be word-perfect for the exam:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| VFR | Abbreviation for Visual Flight Rules. A flight is a "VFR flight" if it is conducted in accordance with the visual flight rules. |
| IFR | Abbreviation for Instrument Flight Rules. |
| VMC | Abbreviation for Visual Meteorological Conditions — weather equal to or better than the prescribed minima of visibility and distance from cloud. |
| IMC | Abbreviation for Instrument Meteorological Conditions — weather below VMC minima. |
| Ceiling | The height of the base of the lowest layer of cloud below 20 000 ft covering more than half the sky. |
Note the pairing: VFR/IFR are sets of rules you fly under; VMC/IMC are weather conditions. A VFR flight requires VMC.
SERA — the European rules of the air
Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 (SERA — Standardised European Rules of the Air) transposes ICAO Annex 2 (and parts of Annex 11) into directly applicable EU law:
- An essential goal of SERA is to harmonise the rules of the air in European airspace — the same rules in every member state.
- Directly applicable in all EU member states; no national transposition needed.
- Complemented by EASA AMC/GM (Easy Access Rules).
- Content largely equivalent to ICAO Annex 2.
SERA structure — sections a PPL pilot uses
| Rule | Subject |
|---|---|
| SERA.2010 | Responsibilities of the pilot-in-command, incl. pre-flight action |
| SERA.3210 | Right of way |
| SERA.3215 | Lights to be displayed by aircraft |
| SERA.3220 | Simulated instrument flight |
| SERA.4001 | Submission of a flight plan |
| SERA.5001 | VMC visibility and distance-from-cloud minima |
| SERA.5005 | Visual flight rules — minimum heights, cruising levels |
| SERA.5010 | Special VFR in control zones |
Germany
SERA applies directly. National additions and procedures are contained in the LuftVO (Luftverkehrs-Ordnung) — see the lesson "National Law — Germany".
Exam essentials
- ICAO Annex 2 contains the international rules of the air; over the high seas it applies without exception.
- SERA (Reg (EU) No 923/2012) harmonises the rules of the air in European airspace and is directly applicable in all member states.
- VFR/IFR are rules; VMC/IMC are weather conditions — a VFR flight requires VMC.
- Ceiling = height of the base of the lowest cloud layer below 20 000 ft covering more than half the sky.
- VMC minima are in SERA.5001; VFR rules (minimum heights, cruising levels) are in SERA.5005; Special VFR is in SERA.5010.
- In Germany, SERA is supplemented nationally by the LuftVO.