---
title: "Visibility (VIS) — EASA Definition · Avioverse"
description: "Annex I — Definitions for terms used in Annexes II to IX, Regulation (EU) No 965/2012: ‘visibility (VIS)’ means visibility for aeronautical purposes…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/visibility"
---

# visibility (VIS)

EASA defines “visibility (VIS)” in 2 regulations, worded for each regulation's scope. The wording below is reproduced verbatim from the EASA Easy Access Rules, with a link to the paragraph it comes from.

> ‘visibility (VIS)’ means visibility for aeronautical purposes, which is the greater of:
>
> (a) the greatest distance at which a black object of suitable dimensions, situated near the ground, can be seen and recognised when observed against a bright background; and
>
> (b) the greatest distance at which lights in the vicinity of 1 000 candelas can be seen and identified against an unlit background;

Annex I — Definitions for terms used in Annexes II to IX · Air Operations · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Easy Access Rules, 27 Mar 2026 revision · [Read the article](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/definitions/powers-and-recitals#annex-i-definitions-for-terms-used-in-annexes-ii-to-ix)

> ‘visibility’ means visibility for aeronautical purposes which is the greater of:
>
> (a) the greatest distance at which a black object of suitable dimensions, situated near the ground, can be seen and recognised when observed against a bright background;
>
> (b) the greatest distance at which lights in the vicinity of 1 000 candelas can be seen and identified against an unlit background;

Article 2 · Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA) · Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · Easy Access Rules, 26 Aug 2025 revision · [Read Article 2](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/cover-regulation/powers-and-recital#article-2)

## Defined in the same article

- [accelerate-stop distance available (ASDA)](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/accelerate-stop-distance-available)
- [acceptable means of compliance (AMC)](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/acceptable-means-of-compliance)
- [acceptance checklist](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/acceptance-checklist)
- [accuracy](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/accuracy)
- [adequate aerodrome](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/adequate-aerodrome)
- [adequate vertiport](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/adequate-vertiport)
- [adult](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/adult)
- [advisory airspace](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/advisory-airspace)