One of the biggest pleasures of flying airplanes is the freedom it provides. It is not only the ability to go virtually anywher at any time that excites, but it’s also the ability to explore things you have never seen before from a bird’s-eye view.
Part of the joy of flight is discovering some intriguing new spot on the ground. And when you do, you have the ability to descend to explore further. But the only way you can truly explore from the air is when you are flying without the constraints of air traffic control. You have to fly under visual flight rules — VFR.
Unlike IFR operations, which force you to fly specific routes and altitudes based on ATC clearances, VFR gives you flexibility. You can get flight following from ATC if you wish, but you are free to do whatever you want unless, of course, you are flying within the borders of airspace that requires compliance with ATC-assigned routing or altitudes. And unless you are cleared to go through, you have to stay out of restricted or prohibited areas.
Flying VFR is also beneficial in busy airspace. In the Los Angeles basin for example, there can be long delays for IFR departures because there are so many requests. I have held short at Santa Monica’s Runway 21 for more than 30 minutes on several occasions before getting clearance to depart IFR. Therefore, I depart VFR from SMO whenever the conditions allow.
Because of its unstructured nature, most professional flight operations’ manuals limit VFR flight. Clay Lacy Aviation’s charter operation doesn’t allow VFR operations at all. Cutter Flight Management conducts some flights under VFR, but there are limitations, such as stricter pilot experience and weather requirements.
Other professional flight operations similarly frown on VFR. “While Textron Aviation does allow VFR flights, we strongly encourage our pilots to operate under the IFR system, especially in turboprops and jets,” says John Esping, chief pilot of flight operations at Textron Aviation.
Freedom from the structure of flying in the system doesn’t mean you can set yourself loose like a foal in a green pasture. Like the 16-year-old who first gets the license and privilege to drive a car, you must shorten the loose reins and realize the seriousness of the task you are about to perform. Safe, successful VFR flight requires a lot of forethought. Here’s how you can make the most of flying VFR.
