FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)Airspace and NavigationHard
A pilot is operating in Class G airspace at 700 feet AGL at 0200 local time (night), below 10,000 feet MSL. What are the minimum flight visibility and cloud clearance requirements the pilot must maintain?
- A1 statute mile visibility, 500 feet above, 1,000 feet below, and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds
- B3 statute miles visibility, 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds
- C3 statute miles visibility, clear of clouds
- D1 statute mile visibility, clear of clouds
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 3 statute miles visibility, 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds
Per 14 CFR 91.155, in Class G airspace at or below 1,200 feet AGL during night hours, the required minimums are 3 statute miles visibility with 1,000 feet above, 500 feet below, and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds — different from the reduced daytime minimums (1 SM, clear of clouds) that apply only during daylight below 1,200 feet AGL.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The visibility and cloud clearance figures are both incorrect and reversed.
- C. This mixes the correct visibility with an incorrect cloud clearance requirement.
- D. This is the reduced daytime minimum for Class G below 1,200 feet AGL, not applicable at night.
Class G Night VFR Minimums
In Class G airspace at or below 1,200 feet AGL, VFR minimums differ between day and night: daytime allows reduced minimums, while nighttime requires the standard 3 SM/1,000-500-2,000 minimums.
- Day, ≤1,200 AGL: 1 SM visibility, clear of clouds
- Night, ≤1,200 AGL: 3 SM visibility, 1,000 above/500 below/2,000 horizontal
- Above 1,200 AGL, standard minimums apply regardless of day/night
Memory trick: Night in Class G = No shortcuts — full 3-1000-500-2000 minimums apply.