The Rules of the Air Regulations 1990

SECTION V VISUAL FLIGHT RULES

23.  The Visual Flight Rules shall be as follows:

(a) Outside controlled airspace and outside airspace notified pursuant to rule 36

(i) an aircraft flying outside controlled airspace above 3000 feet above mean sea level shall remain at least 1 nautical mile horizontally and 1000 feet vertically away from cloud and in a flight visibility of at least 5 nautical miles;

(ii) an aircraft other than a helicopter flying outside controlled airspace at or below 3000 feet above mean sea level shall remain at least 1 nautical mile horizontally and 1000 feet vertically away from cloud and in a flight visibility of at least 3 nautical miles:

Provided that this sub-paragraph shall be deemed to be complied with if the aircraft is flown at a speed which according to its air speed indicator is 140 knots or less and remains clear of cloud, in sight of the surface and in a flight visibility of at least 1 nautical mile;

(iii) a helicopter flying outside controlled airspace at or below 3000 feet above mean sea level shall remain clear of cloud and in sight of the surface, or at least 1 nautical mile horizontally and 1000 feet vertically away from cloud and in a flight visibility of at least 3 nautical miles.

(b) Within controlled airspace

An aircraft flying within controlled airspace shall remain at least 1 nautical mile horizontally and 1000 feet vertically away from cloud and in a flight visibility of at least 5 nautical miles:

Provided that in a control zone, in the case of a special VFR flight, the aircraft shall be flown in accordance with any instructions given by the appropriate air traffic control unit.

For the purposes of this rule, “special VFR flight” means a flight made in Instrument Meteorological Conditions or at night in a control zone or in a control zone notified for the purposes of rule 21 of these Rules in respect of which the appropriate air traffic control unit has given permission for the flight to be made in accordance with special instructions given by that unit instead of in accordance with the Instrument Flight Rules.

(c) Within airspace notified pursuant to rule 36

An aircraft flying within airspace notified for the purposes of rule 36 of these Rules shall be flown:

(i) in the case of a flight in respect of which a special VFR clearance has been given by the appropriate air traffic control unit, clear of cloud, within sight of the surface and in accordance with any special instructions given by that unit;

(ii) in the case of any other flight, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this rule.