Hi Everyone!  So I really hated learning the cloud & visibility restrictions. I kept thinking, this is something I am going to remember now and easily forget later.  So I found breaking it into parts and into what really mattered WAY easier.. So here goes…..

Start with Visibility

Then Clouds

NORMAL = 3 Miles

> 10,000 MSL = 5 Miles

NORMAL =   1,000′ Above, 500′ Below, 2,000′ Horizontal

> 10,000 MSL =  1,000′ Above, 1,000′ Below, 1 Mile Horizontal

This takes takes care of almost everything with a few exceptions to the rules above. But if you know WHY it is easy to remember…

Class G (During the Day)
Visibility = 1 Mile
Clear of Clouds

WHY?:  Class G’s restrictions are less than NORMAL because you are mostly only going to be flying in it when you take off and land.

One LAST Exception – Class B is also Clear of Clouds
WHY?: If you are in Class B you have to be on radar so ATC will be providing separation from other aircraft. You still can’t fly into the clouds because that requires IFR training and being on an IFR flight plan.

As a new pilot I knew I wasn’t going to be flying above 10,000 and probably not into class B airspace so the NORMAL restrictions were most important along with the Class G…

Now I know I didn’t mention the more than 1,200 AGL, but less than 10,000 MSL Class G restrictions.  For good reason… as you know Glass G only goes up to 1200′ AGL so why even have this. Well there are two places on earth where Class G is above 1200′ AGL.  So I’d say remember this just for the test.