Note: Unless explicitly indicated, the rules in this section apply in both Belgium and Luxembourg.
Except when operating as a special VFR flight, VFR flights shall be conducted so that the aircraft is flown in conditions of visibility and distance from clouds equal to or greater than those specified in the following table.
Altitude band | Airspace class | Flight visibility | Distance from cloud |
---|---|---|---|
At and above FL 100 | A(1) B C D E F G | 8 KM | 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT vertically |
Below FL 100 and above 3 000 FT AMSL, or above 1 000 FT above terrain, whichever is the higher | A(1) B C D E F G | 5 KM | 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT vertically |
At and below 3 000 FT AMSL, or 1 000 FT above terrain, whichever is the higher. | A(1) B C D E | 5 KM | 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT vertically |
F G | 5 KM(2) | Clear of cloud and with the surface in sight | |
(1) The VMC minima in Class A airspace are included for guidance to pilots and do not imply acceptance of VFR flights in Class A airspace. (2) Flight visibilities reduced to not less than 1 500 M are permitted for flights operating:
Helicopters are permitted to operate in less than 1 500 M but not less than 800 M flight visibility, if manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision. |
Note: For rules applicable to UAS geographical zones details can be found in ENR 5.1, § 4.
Except when a special VFR clearance is obtained from an ATC unit, VFR flights shall not take off or land at an aerodrome within a CTR, or enter the ATZ or aerodrome traffic circuit when the reported meteorological conditions at that aerodrome are below the following minima:
VFR flights at night may be authorised under the following conditions:
VFR flights at night are authorised, except for gliders, DPM and ULM.
VFR flights at night may be authorised under the following conditions:
Altitude band | Airspace class | Flight visibility | Distance from cloud |
---|---|---|---|
At and above FL 100 | C D | 8 KM | 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT vertically |
Below FL 100 and above 3 000 FT AMSL, or above 1 000 FT above terrain, whichever is the higher | C D | 5 KM | 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT vertically |
At and below 3 000 FT AMSL, or 1 000 FT above terrain, whichever is the higher. | C D | 5 KM | 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT vertically |
However:
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When flying in airspace classes B, C, D, E, F, or G, more than 3 000 FT above mean sea level (MSL) or 1 000 FT above terrain, whichever is higher, the pilot may elect to fly above a cloud layer (VFR on top). When making the decision on whether to fly above or below a cloud at night, consideration should be given at least but not limited to the following:
Unless authorised by the CAA, VFR flights shall not be operated:
Note 1: Authorisation will not be granted for VFR flights to operate above FL 285.
Note 2: In Belgium, authorisation for VFR flights above FL 195 shall be obtained from the CAA at least five working days in advance and after prior agreement with the responsible ATS authority.
Except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except by permission from the CAA, a VFR flight shall not be flown:
VFR flights in level cruising flight, operated in uncontrolled airspace above 3 000 FT AGL, shall be conducted at a cruising level appropriate to the track as specified in the table of cruising levels in ENR 1.7.
VFR flights operated in controlled airspace shall select cruising levels from those to be used by IFR flights as specified in ENR 1.7, unless instructed otherwise by ATC or as indicated in the AIP.
VFR flights shall comply with the provisions of ENR 1.1, § 1.10 when:
An aircraft operated in accordance with VFR that wishes to change to compliance with IFR shall:
For flights departing from uncontrolled airfields in Belgium (except EBKT), intending to join IFR in controlled airspace in Belgium, it is highly recommended to call Brussels FIC by telephone, maximum 30 minutes before the departure of the flight, confirming their intended routing.
Special VFR flights may be authorised to operate within a CTR, subject to an ATC clearance.
Except when permitted by the CAA for helicopters in special cases such as, but not limited to, police, medical flights, search and rescue operations and fire-fighting flights, the following additional conditions shall be applied:
Note: When the reported ground visibility at the aerodrome is less than 1 500M, ATC may issue a special VFR clearance for a flight crossing the control zone and not intending to take off or land at an aerodrome within a control zone, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or aerodrome traffic circuit when the flight visibility reported by the pilot is not less than 1 500M, or, for helicopters, not less than 800M.
VFR flights shall be conducted in conditions of visibility and distance from clouds equal to or greater than those specified in the following table, except those mentioned in § 2.1.1.1, § 2.1.1.2 and § 2.1.2 hereafter.
Airspace class | C | D | G | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Above 3000 FT AMSL or above 1000 FT AGL, whichever is higher | At and below 3000 FT AMSL or 1000 FT AGL, whichever is higher | |||
Distance from clouds | 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT vertically | Cloud base ≥ 1 500 FT | 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT vertically | Clear of clouds and in sight of the surface |
Flight visibility | ≥ 5 KM | ≥ 5 KM | Speed > 250 KT: ≥ 5 KM | |
Speed ≤ 250 KT: ≥ 3 KM |
Within a CTR and on decision of the OC Flying Group, VFR flights by day may be authorised below the established minima when the following weather criteria are met:
Jet aircraft:
Conventional aircraft:
Note 1: VFR flights executed in these conditions (below normal minima) are called special VFR flights.
Within a CTR and on decision of the SOF, VFR flights at night may be authorised at a height which shall not exceed 1 500 FT AGL when the following weather criteria are met:.
General Visual Meteorological Conditions | |||
---|---|---|---|
Day VFR | Night VFR | NVA Flight | |
Visibility | ≥ 800 M | ≥ 3 KM | ≥ 3 KM |
Clouds | Clear of clouds and in sight of the surface | Cloud base ≥ 500 FT above the flown altitude | Cloud base ≥ 200 FT above the MSA of the flown altitude and in sight of the surface |
Note: NVA visibility is the capacity, expressed in KM, to recognize unlighted conspicuous objects and terrain profiles by means of night vision aids. SAR flights on real live and training missions may deviate from these prescribed meteorological conditions in accordance with Belgian 40 Sqn HEL permanent flying orders.
The minimum safety height and the low flying regulation are laid down in ENR 1.1, § 2.7.
VFR flights above 3 000 FT AGL shall select a level appropriate to their track as specified in ENR 1.7, § 3, except for:
When changing from VFR to IFR, pilots shall introduce an IFR flight plan by RTF if part of the flight is to be made within controlled airspace. Proceed in IFR, conforming to the IFR cruising levels (see ENR 1.7), if no part of the flight is to be made within a controlled airspace.The flight will pass from VFR to IFR status upon confirmation by ATC.
Uncontrolled VFR flights are provided with FIS and shall report to Belga Information or Brussels FIC when commencing and ending their mission in the Brussels FIR. These VFR flights shall at all times squawk mode 3/A and mode C.
In order to decrease the risk of collision between military aircraft proceeding VFR outside controlled airspace, the traffic shall be flown one-way between the CTRs as published on chart ENR 6-INDEX.08. Pilots are warned that these regulations are only applicable to military aircraft. Consequently, collision hazard still exists with civil aircraft. These regulations do not apply to helicopters flying at 500 FT AGL.
Note1: The corridor between Liège CTR and EBD37 (direction Waremme) shall in no case be crossed south-westbound below 1 500 FT AMSL. When the cloudbase is below this altitude, this corridor will be avoided via the east and south of EBLG.
Note2: The corridor between Antwerpen CTR and Brussels CTR shall be crossed at 1 000 FT AMSL.
Note3: The corridor between Charleroi CTR and Chièvres CTR shall be crossed at 1 500 FT AMSL.