Aviation · 14 CFR 91.155 · Class C
VFR weather minimums in Class C airspace.
Three statute miles and 500-1,000-2,000 from clouds. Enter your conditions to see whether they pass.
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The Class C minimums
The 91.155(a) table gives Class C 3 statute miles of flight visibility with 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above and 2,000 feet horizontal distance from clouds. Class D and Class E below 10,000 feet MSL use the same numbers, so the weather rule alone does not tell the classes apart.
Entry is a separate test
The AIM (3-2-4) states that two-way radio communication "must be established with the ATC facility providing ATC services prior to entry and thereafter maintain those communications while in Class C airspace." It adds that if the controller answers "(aircraft callsign) standby," radio communications have been established; if the controller does not use the aircraft identification, "radio communications have not been established and the pilot may not enter the Class C airspace."
Also in 91.155
Paragraph (d) bars VFR takeoffs, landings and traffic-pattern entry in the surface area unless ground visibility at that airport is at least 3 statute miles, and paragraph (c) bars VFR beneath a ceiling below 1,000 feet in controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport. Both are subject to 91.157.
Worked example
A pilot in Class C is flying 400 feet below a cloud base with 6 statute miles of visibility. Visibility passes, but 400 feet is less than the 500 feet required below clouds, so the pilot does not meet the Class C row. Descending until at least 500 feet separates the aircraft from the cloud base would satisfy that part of the rule.
Equipment and speed rules are on the Class C requirements page.
The full 91.155(a) table
| Airspace | Flight visibility | Distance from clouds |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Class B | 3 statute miles | Clear of clouds |
| Class C | 3 statute miles | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Class D | 3 statute miles | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Class E, below 10,000 ft MSL | 3 statute miles | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Class E, at or above 10,000 ft MSL | 5 statute miles | 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 statute mile horizontal |
| Class G, 1,200 ft or less above surface, day | 1 statute mile | Clear of clouds |
| Class G, 1,200 ft or less above surface, night | 3 statute miles | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Class G, over 1,200 ft above surface, below 10,000 ft MSL, day | 1 statute mile | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Class G, over 1,200 ft above surface, below 10,000 ft MSL, night | 3 statute miles | 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal |
| Class G, over 1,200 ft above surface, at or above 10,000 ft MSL | 5 statute miles | 1,000 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 1 statute mile horizontal |
Helicopter values for Class G (1/2 statute mile day, 1 statute mile night, clear of clouds, at 1,200 feet or less above the surface) are in the same table in the regulation.
FAQ
What are the VFR weather minimums in Class C airspace?
3 statute miles of flight visibility, with 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above and 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds.
Are Class C and Class D weather minimums the same?
Yes. The 91.155(a) table gives both classes the same visibility and cloud-distance values.
Do I need a clearance to enter Class C?
The AIM says two-way radio communication must be established before entry; it does not call for a clearance as Class B does.
What counts as radio contact established?
Per the AIM, a controller reply that uses your aircraft callsign, even if it is standby, means contact is established.
What about the ground visibility rule?
Under 91.155(d), takeoffs and landings in a surface area need 3 statute miles of ground visibility, subject to 91.157.
Sources
Retrieved 2026-11-02. Regulation text read through the eCFR API (current as of 2026-10-29); AIM text read from the FAA publication URL below. Rules change; check the current text.
- 14 CFR 91.155, Basic VFR weather minimums: the table, paragraphs (b) to (e).
- AIM chapter 3, section 2, Controlled airspace: Class C entry and communication requirements.
Not legal advice or flight instruction
This page summarizes federal aviation rules for general information. It is not legal advice or flight instruction and does not replace the regulation, an instructor, or the FAA. Check the current rule and your own certificate privileges before you fly. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.