VMC minima (SERA.5001) — Class **G** airspace below 3 000 ft AMSL or 1 000 ft above terrain (whichever is higher), aeroplane:

VMC Minimum Conditions — SERA.5001 / Annex 2 §4.1

General (ICAO)

ICAO Annex 2 §4.1 / Appendix 3: VFR is only permitted in VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions). VMC minima vary by airspace class and altitude.

Europe (EASA / EU)

SERA.5001 — VMC Visibility and Distance from Clouds

Airspace classes A, B, C, D, E (controlled)

• At or below 10 000 ft AMSL: visibility 5 km, cloud distance 1500 m horizontal / 1000 ft vertical.
• Above 10 000 ft AMSL: visibility 8 km, cloud distance 1500 m horizontal / 1000 ft vertical.

Airspace classes F, G (uncontrolled)

• Above 3000 ft AMSL or 1000 ft AGL (whichever higher): visibility 5 km, cloud distance 1500 m / 1000 ft.
• Below 3000 ft AMSL or 1000 ft AGL: visibility 5 km, clear of clouds and with ground in sight.

Special class G (low-speed operations)

Below 3000 ft MSL/1000 ft AGL: ground in sight continuously; flight visibility of at least 1.5 km, if the indicated airspeed is less than 140 kts; clear of clouds.

VMC per class (summary)

Class C VFR visibility special

Flight visibility 8 km at and above FL 100 / 5 km below FL 100; distance from clouds 300 m vertically / 1.5 km horizontally; max 250 kt IAS below FL 100; ATC clearance; radio monitoring; separation from IFR; ATC; traffic information VFR/IFR (evasion recommendations on request).

CTR — special preconditions

Necessary preconditions to enter a control zone under VFR: flight visibility at least 5 km, distance from clouds at least 1500 m horizontally and 300 m vertically, plus 5 km surface visibility, ceiling not lower than 1500 ft AGL, and ATC has given permission.

Special: visibility 800 m below 3000 AMSL

Flight visibility 800 m below 3000 ft AMSL or 1000 ft AGL — for very low/slow operations (gliders, helicopters) in specific classes — with conditions.

Germany (national)

SERA applies directly. National specifics in LuftVO §28 are largely identical.