It was also covered last October during the seminar hosted by our Tower Chief.
And it may be useful during this period of low ceilings and visibility.
Weather minimums are included in FAR Part 91.157 (Which details visibility definitions).
The tower can't issue a special VFR clearance unless a licensed pilot requests it.
You don't need an IFR rating to do them during daytime.
You need to remain clear of clouds and have at least 1 mile visibility (Helicopters don't need the 1 mile).
When the tower is reporting less than 1000' ceiling and 3 miles vis, Cascade Approach owns the class E airspace. So, the tower has to call Cascade and request the special VFR. Any IFR traffic being worked has priority and the aircraft requesting the special VFR will have to wait.
But, the tower has seen occasions when a departing VFR aircraft could take advantage of the special VFR clearance when the less-than-VFR weather is localized and it's solid VFR nearby.
The tower will use their discretion when it comes to safe operations in their airspace, so don't go looking for a special VFR when the clouds are really near to the surface or the visibility is very poor. And don't forget those transmitter towers around the valley.
Boy, did I feel special that day!
ReplyDeleteA couple of years ago I had a CAP mission to the coast with a stop at Grants Pass to pick-up the rest of the aircrew. The fog at MFR was beginning to breakup at the south end of the airspace with a decent ceiling over the runway. Although the tower was holding other a/c, a special VFR request did the trick for a launch on 14 and, additionally, a request by the tower to report the altitude of the top of the fog layer. (Must have saved a 30 minute delay). The rest of the way to GP was all blue sky.
Bud Liberatore
CAP,ret.