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4 Answers

Weather that makes an airport VFR only?

Asked by: 3005 views
Instrument Rating

Two people are taking two different planes both equipped /A from KCCR-KHAF. The weather across the bay area is overcast 2500 feet. Pilot 1 is a VFR pilot takes off and maneuvers at 2000 feet under class B airspace and lands at KHAF. Pilot 2 is IFR rated got instructions to fly the Buchanan9 departure with the SABLO transition then vectors and to climbs to 4000. With small hills to the west of khaf, the only near MSA is V27 at 3000 feet. 500 feet to high. Is the IFR pilot stuck above the overcast layer or can ATC guide him down below 2500' to VMC? How does the pilot know what altitude ATC can guide him down to? 2000? 1500? 1000? All of them are still above VFR minima but I can't find where it says ATC can guide a plane down to those altitudes

Thanks

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4 Answers



  1. Nibake on Nov 19, 2014

    We will see if the experts weigh in but until then I believe that it is individually tailored depending on ATC’s radar coverage and the area terrain, AFAIK that information isn’t published. I’m assuming that your talking about radar vectors since your scenario wouldn’t really apply to IFR routes as you would be able to clearly identifying minimum altitudes.

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  2. John D Collins on Nov 19, 2014

    I assume your usage of MSA for V27, you meant either MEA or MOCA. MSA is a minimum safe altitude for emergency use that is published on most instrument approaches and is within a 25 NM of a navigation facility or other location such as a runway threshold. I think you are asking about how does one know the minimum vectoring altitude in a given location, These are not currently published to the public. I would simply ask the controller.

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  3. Kris Kortokrax on Nov 19, 2014

    Doesn’t your Instrument rated pilot know that he can fly the trip under VFR?

    The problem for the controller is that he cannot descend you below the Minimum Vectoriing Altitude (or other minimum IFR altitude).

    The controller also would not know what the base of the overcast is at every point along your route.

    The initial altitudes for all of the approaches into Half Moon are at or above 3000 feet. Why couldn’t your Instrument rated pilot just complete the trip under IFR?

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  4. Mark Kolber on Nov 21, 2014

    Using the topic question as a guide, I have no idea what is being asked.

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