---
title: "SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima — ANNEX: Rules of the Air, SERA · Avioverse"
description: "VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima are contained in Table S5-1."
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-5/sera-5001"
---

# SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima

ANNEX: Rules of the Air · Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

IR Implementing rule

## SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima

[VMC](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/vmc) visibility and distance from cloud minima are contained in Table S5-1.

| Table S5-1 (\*)                                                                                                                  |                      |                                                                             |                                                  |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| [Altitude](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/altitude) band                                                                   | Airspace class       | [Flight visibility](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-visibility) | Distance from cloud                              |
| At and above 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL                                                                                            | A (\*\*) B C D E F G | 8 km                                                                        | 1 500 m horizontally 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically |
| Below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL and above 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or above 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher | A (\*\*) B C D E F G | 5 km                                                                        | 1500 m horizontally 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically  |
| At and below 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher                                   | A (\*\*) B C D E     | 5 km                                                                        | 1500 m horizontally 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically  |
|                                                                                                                                  | F G                  | 5 km (\*\*\*)                                                               | Clear of cloud and with the surface in sight     |

(\*) When the [height](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/height) of the [transition altitude](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/transition-altitude) is lower than 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, FL 100 shall be used in lieu of 10 000 ft.

(\*\*) The VMC minima in Class A airspace are included for guidance to pilots and do not imply acceptance of [VFR](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/vfr) flights in Class A airspace.

(\*\*\*) When so prescribed by the [competent authority](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/competent-authority):

(a) flight visibilities reduced to not less than 1 500 m may be permitted for flights operating:

(1) at speeds of 140 kts IAS or less to give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision; or

(2) in circumstances in which the probability of encounters with other traffic would normally be low, e.g. in areas of low volume traffic and for [aerial work](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aerial-work) at low levels;

(b) helicopters may be 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.

IR · SERA.5001 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2016/1185 · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

GM Guidance material

## GM1 SERA.5001 (\*\*\*)(b) VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima

[FLIGHT VISIBILITY](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-visibility) — MANNED VCA

Until sufficient safety data related to operations with manned VCA is available, manned VCA should not be operated with less than 1 500 m flight visibility.

GM · GM1 SERA.5001 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2025/012/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

[All rules in SECTION 5 Visual meteorological conditions, visual flight rules, special VFR and instrument flight rules](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-5)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 26 Aug 2025, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.