If the weather report is incorrect, can you legally land? Let’s explore this scenario and see what you would do.
The Scenario
You’re a non-instrument rated private pilot flying into Walnut Ridge, Arkansas (KARG), a non-towered airport. About 10 miles out, you listen to the field’s AWOS, which reports certain conditions. You’re surprised as the weather around you seems relatively clear, with broken ceilings around 2,500′ MSL and good visibility. Based on the reported ceiling and incorrect visibility, you continue to KARG. As you approach the airport, you notice that the conditions around are VMC with no unusual low hanging clouds, indicating it should be legal to land as a VFR pilot. However, the updated AWOS still reports IFR conditions. You’re not sure if you can legally land at the airport. What would you do?
Each Airspace Has Its Own Cloud Clearance Requirements
The Walnut Ridge airport is in Class G airspace (below 700′ AGL), and during the day, the weather minimums are 1 SM visibility and clear of clouds. Since the AWOS reports 1/2 mile visibility incorrectly, you realize there may be an issue with the station. But is there a risk of not following the automated station’s weather report?
Clearly, you can maintain your weather minimums on final approach as the visibility is clear below the clouds. There must be something wrong with the station. But is there any danger of not adhering to the weather report?
What Do The Regulations Say?
CFR Part 91.155 covers the weather minimums for VFR flight in various airspaces. There are many provisions, and if you’re not familiar, try our online course. Towards the end of 91.155, there are some additional notes. Here’s what it says…
(b) Class G Airspace. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, the following operations may be conducted in Class G airspace below 1,200 feet above the surface:
- A helicopter can operate clear of clouds within 1/2 mile of the runway or helipad if the flight visibility is at least 1/2 statute mile.
- An airplane, powered parachute, or weight-shift-control aircraft can operate clear of clouds within 1/2 mile of the runway if the visibility is less than 3 statute miles during the night and is at least 1 statute mile while in the airport traffic pattern.
(c) Except as provided in 91.157 of this part (SVFR clearances), no person may take off or land an aircraft, or enter the traffic pattern of an airport, under VFR, within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport –
- Unless ground visibility at that airport is at least 3 statute miles.
- If ground visibility is not reported at that airport, unless flight visibility during landing or takeoff, or while operating in the traffic pattern, is at least 3 statute miles.
You don’t meet any of these criteria as you’re not in the traffic pattern, and the surface area of this airport is in Class G airspace. The Class G airspace below 1,200′ AGL still has the minimums of 1 mile visibility and clear of clouds. So what about the definition of “flight visibility?”
Flight visibility means the average forward horizontal distance, from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight, at which prominent unlighted objects may be seen and identified by day and prominent lighted objects may be seen and identified by night.
Flight visibility is determined by the pilot and applies to most airspace weather requirements. When flying en route, the pilot is supposed to be able to assess flight visibility to comply with weather minimums. Flight visibility is not something an AWOS can provide or that ATC can report en route, etc.
An SVFR Clearance Won’t Help You
Special VFR clearances are for airports within Class B, C, D, and E controlled airspace. At a minimum, the visibility must be 1SM clear of clouds for taking off or landing under SVFR at these airports. ATC cannot issue the clearance when the reported visibility is less than 1SM, regardless of what you see with your own eyes. From SVFR regulation 91.157: “The determination of visibility by a pilot in accordance with paragraph (c)(2) of this section is not an official weather report or an official ground visibility report.”
What Would You Do?
How would you handle a situation like this? Email your decision to scenarios@boldmethod.com or share in the comments below.
