Order 7110.65P, Air Traffic Control, with changes

2/19/047110.65P7−5−6. CLIMB TO VFRAuthorize an aircraft to climb to VFR upon request ifthe only weather limitation is restricted visibility.PHRASEOLOGY−CLIMB TO V−F−R WITHIN (name) SURFACE AREA/WITHIN (a specified distance) MILES FROM (airportname) AIRPORT, MAINTAIN SPECIAL V−F−R CONDI-TIONS UNTIL REACHING V−F−R.REFERENCE−FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, Para 2−1−4.FAAO 7110.65, Airspace Classes, Para 2−4−22.FAAO 7110.65, Authorization, Para 7−5−1.7−5−7. GROUND VISIBILITY BELOW ONE MILE14 CFR Part 91 does not prohibit helicopter SVFRflight when the visibility is less than 1 mile. Treatrequests for SVFR fixed wing operations as followswhen the ground visibility is officially reported at anairport as less than 1 mile:a. Inform departing aircraft that ground visibilityis less than 1 mile and that a clearance cannot beissued.b. Inform arriving aircraft, operating outside of aClass B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area, thatground visibility is less than 1 mile and that, unless anemergency exists, a clearance cannot be issued.c. Inform arriving aircraft, operating VFR/SVFRwithin a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surfacearea, that ground visibility is less than 1 mile andrequest the pilot to advise intentions.PHRASEOLOGY−(Name of airport) VISIBILITY LESS THAN ONE MILE.ADVISE INTENTIONS.NOTE−Clear an aircraft to land at an airport with an operatingcontrol tower, traffic permitting, if the pilot reports theairport in sight. The pilot is responsible to continue to theairport or exit the surface area. 14 CFR Section 91.157prohibits VFR aircraft (other than helicopters) fromlanding at any airport within a surface area when groundvisibility is less than 1 mile. A pilot could inadvertentlyencounter conditions that are below SVFR minimums afterentering a surface area due to rapidly changing weather.The pilot is best suited to determine the action to be takensince pilots operating under SVFR between sunrise andsunset are not required to be instrument rated, and thepossibility exists that flight visibility may not be the sameas ground visibility. 14 CFR Section 91.3 authorizes a pilotencountering an inflight emergency requiring immediateaction to deviate from any rule of 14 CFR Part 91 to theextent required to meet that emergency. Flight into adverseweather conditions may require the pilot to execute theemergency authority granted in 14 CFR Section 91.3 andcontinue inbound to land.d. Authorize scheduled air carrier aircraft in theU.S. to conduct operations if ground visibility is notless than 1 / 2 statute mile.NOTE−14 CFR Part 121 permits landing or takeoff by domesticscheduled air carriers where a local surface restriction tovisibility is not less than 1/2 statute mile, provided all turnsafter takeoff or before landing and all flights beyond1 statute mile from the airport boundary can beaccomplished above or outside the area so restricted. Thepilot is solely responsible for determining if the nature ofthe visibility restriction will permit compliance with theprovisions of 14 CFR Part 121.e. Clear an aircraft to fly through the Class B,Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area if theaircraft reports flight visibility is at least 1 statutemile.REFERENCE−FAAO 7110.65, Operational Priority, Para 2−1−4.FAAO 7110.65, Authorization, Para 7−5−1.7−5−8. FLIGHT VISIBILITY BELOW ONE MILETreat requests for SVFR fixed-wing operations asfollows when weather conditions are not reported atan airport and the pilot advises the flight visibility isless than 1 mile:NOTE−14 CFR Part 91 prescribes the visibility for basic VFR andSVFR operations as the official reported ground visibilityat airports where provided and landing or takeoff “flightvisibility” where there is no official reported groundvisibility.a. Inform departing aircraft that a clearance cannotbe issued.b. Inform arriving aircraft operating outside of aClass B, Class C, Class D or Class E surface area thata clearance cannot be issued unless an emergencyexists.c. Request the intentions of an arriving aircraftoperating within a Class B, Class C, Class D, orClass E surface area.Special VFR (SVFR)7−5−3