---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 91.157"
title: "14"
number: "91.157"
heading: "Special VFR weather minimums."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/91.157"
---

# §91.157. Special VFR weather minimums.

- (a) Except as provided in appendix D, [section 3](/cfr/14/3.md), of this part, special VFR operations may be conducted under the weather minimums and requirements of this section, instead of those contained in [§ 91.155](/cfr/14/91.155.md), below 10,000 feet MSL within the airspace contained by the upward extension of the lateral boundaries of the controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport.
- (b) Special VFR operations may only be conducted—
  - (1) With an ATC clearance;
  - (2) Clear of clouds;
  - (3) Except for helicopters, when flight visibility is at least 1 statute mile; and
  - (4) Except for helicopters, between sunrise and sunset (or in Alaska, when the sun is 6 degrees or less below the horizon) unless—
    - (i) The person being granted the ATC clearance meets the applicable requirements for instrument flight under [part 61](/cfr/14/part61.md) of this chapter; and
    - (ii) The aircraft is equipped as required in [§ 91.205(d)](/cfr/14/91.205.md?p=d).
- (c) No person may take off or land an aircraft (other than a helicopter) under special VFR—
  - (1) Unless ground visibility is at least 1 statute mile; or
  - (2) If ground visibility is not reported, unless flight visibility is at least 1 statute mile. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term flight visibility includes the visibility from the cockpit of an aircraft in takeoff position if:
    - (i) The flight is conducted under this part 91; and
    - (ii) The airport at which the aircraft is located is a satellite airport that does not have weather reporting capabilities.
- (d) The determination of visibility by a pilot in accordance with [paragraph (c)(2)](#c-2) of this section is not an official weather report or an official ground visibility report.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Amdt. 91-235, 58 FR 51968, Oct. 5, 1993, as amended by Amdt. 91-247, 60 FR 66874, Dec. 27, 1995; Amdt. 91-262, 65 FR 16116, Mar. 24, 2000; Docket FAA-2022-1355, Amdt. 91-366, 87 FR 75846, Dec. 9, 2022]

### Source

Source: Docket 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40101, 40103, 40105, 40113, 40120, 44101, 44111, 44701, 44704, 44709, 44711, 44712, 44715,44716, 44717, 44722, 44740, 46306, 46315, 46316, 46504, 46506-46507, 47122, 47508,47528-47531, 47534; Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 114-190, 130 Stat. 615 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note); sec. 828, Pub. L. 118-63, 138 Stat. 1330 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note); articles 12 and 29 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 61 Stat. 1180.

### Amendments

[Amdt. 91-235, 58 FR 51968, Oct. 5, 1993, as amended by Amdt. 91-247, 60 FR 66874, Dec. 27, 1995; Amdt. 91-262, 65 FR 16116, Mar. 24, 2000; Docket FAA-2022-1355, Amdt. 91-366, 87 FR 75846, Dec. 9, 2022]