lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

My understanding is that an IFR to VFR on top requires an instrument clearance and an instrument rated pilot. this is not a form of VFR. This is not considered fllight following. Once on top in VFR conditions, the clearance can be cancelled by advising ATC that you are now in VFR conditions and my safely proceed under VFR conditions. Often you can obtain VFR flight following after cancellation of your Instrument flight plan.

On Tue, Jan 22, 2013 at 7:02 AM, Hugh Bergeron <hpbergeron@hotmail.com> wrote:

VFR to VFR-on-top, where you wanted the benefits of an IFR clearance but some of the freedom of VFR conditions, was a common clearance used in military scrambles back when I was a military controller. Is this clearance still available today?

Hugh

To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 07:41:14 -0500
From: skipslater@verizon.net
Subject: [LML] IFR to VFR on top

Here's a paragraph from a recent Flying article on this topic:

"You can also skip the filing step and request a VFR-on-top clearance from ground control or clearance by simply requesting an IFR climb to VFR-on-top. You can expect your clearance to have a clearance limit at some fix (an intersection or VOR, most likely) as well as initial and final altitude assignments (i.e., climb maintain 3,000, expect 5,000 in five minutes). The clearance will likely also contain information about what to expect if VFR conditions have not been reached once the fix has been reached."

Here's a link to the entire article:

http://www.flyingmag.com/training/instrument-flight-rules/ifr-vfr-top