For VFR operations at or above 10,000 feet MSL, what is the minimum horizontal distance from clouds required?

• A. 1 mile
• B. 2 miles
• C. 3 miles
• D. 5 miles

Answer: (A)

VFR at or above 10,000 feet MSL uses a set of minimums that include both visibility and cloud clearance. You must have 5 miles of visibility and you must remain clear of clouds by 1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 1 mile horizontally. The key point for this question is the horizontal component: you must stay at least 1 mile away from any cloud horizontally. That distance gives you enough time and space to see and avoid cloud formations as you fly.

The other numbers you might hear—5 miles of visibility is required, but it refers to how far you can see, not how far you must be from a cloud horizontally. There isn’t a larger horizontal clearance like 2 or 3 miles in this rule set, so 1 mile is the correct minimum.