• - With regards to VFR flights planned to operate across international borders, the Union regulation (SERA.4001(b)(5)) differs from the ICAO Standard in Annex 2, 3.3.1.2(e) with the addition of the text in bold, as follows:

  “any flight across international borders, unless otherwise prescribed by the States concerned.”

• - With regard to VFR and IFR flights planned to operate at night, an additional requirement is inserted to Union regulation SERA.4001(b)(6) as follows:

  “(6) any flight planned to operate at night, if leaving the vicinity of an aerodrome”

• (1) if leaving the vicinity of an aerodrome, a flight plan shall be submitted;
• (2) flights shall establish and maintain two-way radio communication on the appropriate ATS communication channel, when available;
• (3) the VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima as specified in Table S5-1 shall apply except that:
  • (i) the ceiling shall not be less than 450 m (1500 ft);
  • (ii) except as specified in (c)(4), the reduced flight visibility provisions specified in Table S5-1(a) and (b) shall not apply;
  • (iii) in airspace classes B, C, D, E, F and G, at and below 900 m (3000 ft) above MSL or 300 m (1000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher, the pilot shall maintain continuous sight of the surface;
  • (iv) for helicopters in airspace classes F and G, flight visibility shall not be less than 3 km, provided that the pilot maintains continuous sight of the surface and if manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or obstacles in time to avoid collision; and
  • (v) for mountainous terrain, higher VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima may be prescribed.
• (4) ceiling, visibility and distance from cloud minima lower than those specified 4.3(c) above may be permitted for helicopters in special cases, such as medical flights, search and rescue operations and fire-fighting.
• (5) except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except when specifically authorised by the competent authority, a VFR flight at night shall be flown at a level which is not below the minimum flight altitude established by the State whose territory is overflown, or, where no such minimum flight altitude has been established:
  • (i) over high terrain or in mountainous areas, at a level which is at least 600 m (2000 ft) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft;
  • (ii) elsewhere than as specified in (i), at a level which is at least 300 m (1000 ft) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft.”

• (1) over the congested areas of cities, towns or settlements or over an open-air assembly of persons at a height less than 300 m (1000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m from the aircraft;
• (2) elsewhere than as specified in (1), at a height less than 150 m (500 ft) above the ground or water, or 150 m (500 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 150 m (500 ft) from the aircraft.”

• (1) The flight crew shall read back to the air traffic controller safety-related parts of ATC clearances and instructions which are transmitted by voice. The following items shall always be read back:
  • (i) ATC route clearances;
  • (ii) clearances and instructions to enter, land on, take off from, hold short of, cross, taxi and backtrack on any runway; and
  • (iii) runway-in-use, altimeter settings, SSR codes, newly assigned communication channels, level instructions, heading and speed instructions; and
  • (iv) transition levels, whether issued by the controller or contained in ATIS broadcasts.”

• (a) by the pilot:
  • (1) clear of cloud and with the surface in sight;
  • (2) the flight visibility is not less than 1500 m or, for helicopters, not less than 800 m;
  • (3) at speed of 140 kts IAS or less to give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic and any obstacles in time to avoid a collision; and
• (b) by ATC:
  • (1) during day only, unless otherwise permitted by the competent authority;
  • (2) the ground visibility is not less than 1500 m or, for helicopters, not less than 800 m;
  • (3) the ceiling is not less than 180 m (600 ft).

A unit providing approach control service shall retain control of arriving aircraft until such aircraft have been cleared to the aerodrome control tower and are in communication with the aerodrome control tower. Not more than one arrival shall be cleared to a unit providing aerodrome control service during IMC, except when the aerodrome control service is able to monitor the separation between arriving aircraft - transferred for control to it - on the final approach path with an electronic device approved by the appropriate ATS authority for this purpose.

Owing to the fact that the active area of adverse weather may not show on ATS surveillance system the following procedure should be applied:

When a controlled aircraft experiencing adverse weather which is likely to force the pilot to initiate action to circumnavigate the adverse weather area beyond the prescribed track keeping accuracy (+ 5 NM), it should be reported in sufficient time to permit ATC to co-ordinate with neighbouring unit responsible for control of traffic in the area concerned.

The pilot’s intention for avoiding action should be reported as soon as possible prior to the point from which the aircraft is expected to deviate from the assigned flight path, stating the required direction of turn and estimated distance from the prescribed track.

ITEM 15: ROUTE

(b) CRUISING LEVEL

For VFR flight planning to operate in uncontrolled airspace cruising level/altitude shall also be indicated.