Which airspace has basic VFR weather minimums of 1000-foot ceiling and 3 miles visibility?

• A. Class D
• B. Class G
• C. Class E
• D. Class A

Answer: (A)

VFR minimums depend on the class of airspace, and the airspace around a towered, controlled airport has moderate basic requirements. The standard basic VFR weather minimums for that airspace are 3 statute miles of visibility and a cloud base (ceiling) of 1,000 feet above the surface. That means you must be able to see 3 miles and you may not fly into clouds lower than 1,000 feet AGL.

This set of minimums is specific to that towered airport airspace. Other airspace classes have different cloud-clearance and visibility rules—for example, some require being clear of clouds with 3 miles visibility, others use more stringent cloud clearance (different vertical/horizontal separations), and Class A prohibits VFR altogether. So the 3 miles visibility and 1,000-foot ceiling point to the airspace around a towered airport, not to the other classes.