From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ARPAVAX:CAD:teklabs!jackg
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Title: vfr operation in a control zone
Article-I.D.: teklabs.1170
Posted: Tue May 11 08:48:30 1982
Received: Wed May 12 01:23:39 1982

The subject of when vfr operation in a control zone is legal doesn't
seem to be spelled out to logically in the FARs and I can't get a
consistent answer from any of the CFIs that I have talked to.
Specifically, if the weather at the airport is below 1000 ft ceiling
or visibility is less than 3 miles then is ANY vfr operation in the
entire control zone illegal?  If the airport has a layer of fog
and otherwise everything is cavu, can a vfr flight overfly the
airport at 10000 ft without requesting a special vfr clearance?
One interpretation I heard is that special vfr is required
only UNDER the ceiling. So what is the rule if the ceiling is
at 12000 feet and the visibility at the airport is under 3
miles due to, for example, blowing dust. Is a special vfr clearance
required to overfly at 7000 feet?  In both these cases it seems
that there is no real chance of interference with ifr traffic
at the airport but the rules seem to say that vfr is forbidden.
I like to think that there is some functional reason behind all
the rules but I am having troubles with this one. Any comments?

   Jack Gjovaag
   Tek Labs  Tektronix