CARs 602.114–602.117
VFR Weather Minima in Canada
VFR in controlled airspace needs 3 miles flight visibility and 500 ft vertically, 1 mile horizontally from cloud (CARs 602.114). Class G at or above 1,000 ft AGL: 1 mile by day, 3 at night, 500 ft and 2,000 ft from cloud. Below 1,000 ft AGL an aeroplane needs 2 miles by day, 3 at night, and clear of cloud (CARs 602.115).
The minima at a glance
| Where you are | Flight visibility | Distance from cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Controlled airspace (Classes B to E, and controlled Class F), CARs 602.114 | 3 miles, day or night | 500 ft vertically, 1 mile horizontally |
| Uncontrolled, at or above 1,000 ft AGL (Class G, and uncontrolled Class F), CARs 602.115(b) | 1 mile by day, 3 miles at night | 500 ft vertically, 2,000 ft horizontally |
| Uncontrolled, below 1,000 ft AGL, aeroplane, CARs 602.115(c) | 2 miles by day, 3 miles at night | Clear of cloud |
| Special VFR, in a control zone only, CARs 602.117 | 1 mile; at night, only to land at your destination | Clear of cloud |
Every one of these rules starts from the same condition: the aircraft is operated with visual reference to the surface (CARs 602.114(a) and 602.115(a)). Class A is IFR only.
The visibilities are statute miles (TC AIM GEN 1.4.1, Table 1.1); where the CARs mean nautical miles, they say so, as CARs 602.32 does. Read the same way, the 1 mile you keep from cloud in controlled airspace is 5,280 ft, more than two and a half times the 2,000 ft that Class G asks for. The figure draws both at the same scale.
- Airspace
- Class G — uncontrolled — 3.4 NM outside the control zone, 2 000 ft AGL
- Governing rule
- CARs 602.115(b)
- Flight visibility
- not less than 1 mile (day)
- Distance from cloud
- 500 ft vertically, 2 000 ft horizontally
- To the cloud wall
- 2 142 ft
The rule, word for word
Canada has no class-by-class table of VFR minima. It has two rules: one for controlled airspace, one for uncontrolled airspace. Except in Class F, the class letter tells you which of the two you are in. TC AIM RAC 2.8.6 says Class F "can be controlled airspace, uncontrolled airspace, or a combination of both": an advisory area can be uncontrolled at its floor and controlled at its ceiling, with different minima in each part. In Class F, check the chart.
“No person shall operate an aircraft in VFR flight within controlled airspace unless (a) the aircraft is operated with visual reference to the surface; (b) flight visibility is not less than three miles; (c) the distance of the aircraft from cloud is not less than 500 feet vertically and one mile horizontally; and (d) where the aircraft is operated within a control zone, (i) when reported, ground visibility is not less than three miles, and (ii) except when taking off or landing, the distance of the aircraft from the surface is not less than 500 feet.”
“No person shall operate an aircraft in VFR flight within uncontrolled airspace unless (a) the aircraft is operated with visual reference to the surface; (b) where the aircraft is operated at or above 1,000 feet AGL (i) during the day, flight visibility is not less than one mile, (ii) during the night, flight visibility is not less than three miles, and (iii) in either case, the distance of the aircraft from cloud is not less than 500 feet vertically and 2,000 feet horizontally; (c) where the aircraft is not a helicopter and is operated at less than 1,000 feet AGL (i) during the day, flight visibility is not less than two miles, except if otherwise authorized in an air operator certificate, (ii) during the night, flight visibility is not less than three miles, and (iii) in either case, the aircraft is operated clear of cloud; …”
Day, night and the 1,000 ft line
Only uncontrolled airspace changes with the time of day and with height. In controlled airspace the numbers are the same day and night, at any height.
Night is not sunset to sunrise. CARs 101.01 defines it as "the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight", so both twilights still count as day.
Below 1,000 ft AGL in Class G the rule asks only that you stay clear of cloud (CARs 602.115(c)(iii)). It sets no distance. The 500 ft and 2,000 ft apply from 1,000 ft AGL up.
Inside a control zone
A control zone is controlled airspace, so the 3 miles and the 500 ft and 1 mile from cloud of CARs 602.114 apply. Paragraph (d) adds two conditions of its own:
- Ground visibility. When it is reported, it must be at least 3 miles. Good flight visibility does not make up for a ground visibility report of 2 miles.
- Height above the surface. At least 500 ft, except when taking off or landing.
Put the second condition next to the 500 ft below cloud and you get a quick test. With a ceiling of 1,000 ft AGL the only legal height in the zone is exactly 500 ft. With a lower ceiling, normal VFR in the zone is possible only while taking off or landing.
Special VFR: below the minima, in a control zone only
Special VFR is a VFR flight that air traffic control authorizes inside a control zone when the flight visibility is below the 3 miles of CARs 602.114(b). Its conditions are in CARs 602.117(1):
“Despite paragraph 602.114(b), an aircraft may be operated in special VFR flight within a control zone if (a) weather conditions preclude compliance with paragraph 602.114(b); (b) flight visibility is not less than (i) one mile, where the aircraft is not a helicopter, or (ii) one-half mile, where the aircraft is a helicopter; (c) the aircraft is operated clear of cloud and with visual reference to the surface at all times; and (d) authorization to do so has been requested and obtained from the appropriate air traffic control unit.”
What else special VFR asks of you
- You ask; ATC never offers. TC AIM RAC 2.7.3: "SVFR will not be initiated by ATS." You must have the authorization before you try special VFR in the zone.
- A radio. The aircraft must be "equipped with radiocommunication equipment capable of maintaining communication with the appropriate air traffic control unit" (CARs 602.117(2)(c)).
- Ground visibility too. When it is reported, ground visibility must also be at least 1 mile for an aeroplane (CARs 602.117(2)(b); TC AIM RAC 2.7.3).
- At night, only to land. For an aeroplane at night, TC AIM RAC 2.7.3 says "ATC will only authorize special VFR where the authorization is for the purpose of allowing the aircraft to land at the destination aerodrome."
- Still your responsibility. RAC 2.7.3: the pilot "continues to remain responsible for avoiding other aircraft and weather conditions beyond the pilot's own flight capabilities and the capabilities of the aircraft."
Where candidates lose marks
- 2,000 ft horizontally is the Class G figure. In controlled airspace it is 1 mile.
- 1,000 ft vertically from cloud belongs to VFR over-the-top (CARs 602.116(a)), not to either VFR minima rule.
- 5 miles is VFR over-the-top's flight visibility at cruising altitude (CARs 602.116(c)). Neither CARs 602.114 nor 602.115 uses it, and no minimum changes again above 1,000 ft AGL.
- 1 mile by day below 1,000 ft AGL is the helicopter's figure (CARs 602.115(d)). An aeroplane needs 2.
- 2,200 ft AGL is the base of the low-level airways and, unless otherwise specified, of control area extensions (TC AIM RAC 2.7.1 and 2.7.2). It is not a floor that controlled airspace has everywhere, so check the chart before you pick 602.114 or 602.115.
- Special VFR outside a control zone does not exist.
Practice
Original questions in the style of the Transport Canada written exams. Tap an answer to see why it is right or wrong.
Question 1 of 4
By day you are VFR on a low-level airway, about 3,000 ft above the ground. What are the minimum flight visibility and distance from cloud?
Tap an answer to check it.
Question 2 of 4
At night you are VFR in an aeroplane at 1,500 ft AGL in uncontrolled airspace. What is the minimum flight visibility?
Tap an answer to check it.
Question 3 of 4
Inside a control zone the flight visibility is 4 miles, and the ground visibility is reported as 2 miles. May you fly normal VFR?
Tap an answer to check it.
Question 4 of 4
At night, ATC will authorize special VFR for an aeroplane in a control zone only
Tap an answer to check it.
Taught in
The chapter goes further than this page, and ends with a quiz.
Other topics
Checked 4 October 2026. CARs 602.114 to 602.117 quoted from SOR/96-433 as consolidated to 17 June 2026 (Justice Laws Website). TC AIM RAC 2.7.1, RAC 2.7.3, Table 2.2, RAC 2.8.6 and GEN 1.4.1 checked against TC AIM, October 1, 2026. TC Exam Prep is independent and not affiliated with Transport Canada.