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From 20 May 2021, the UK will revert to the rules on flight visibility and distance from cloud in class D airspace that existed up to 26 March 2020. This reflects the wave of feeling seen in the submission to the recent General Aviation Consultation on life after leaving EASA.

The changes to the visual meteorological conditions (VMC) minima will apply to aircraft flying within the UK in class D airspace provided that they are flying during the day only; at and below 3,000 ft above mean sea level, or 1,000 ft above terrain, whichever is the higher; and at an indicated airspeed of 140 kts or less, to give adequate opportunity to see other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision.

The change will affect all airspace users and all air navigation service providers that provide air traffic services within or in proximity to class D airspace.

For further information and details on this change, please see www.caa.co.uk/sera

Notes to Editors

The Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2021 will amend the VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima in class D airspace [1], and will incorporate the UK's existing general permission in Official Record Series 4 No. 1341 relating to flight visibilities in class G airspace.

ORS 4 No. 1341 will be withdrawn when these changes come into effect.

[1] As detailed in SERA.5001 Table S5-1.