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And those regs really DO keep people alive. Kobe Bryant's pilot had to get special permission to fly that day [0]. Too bad it was granted. If he'd been groun

by toss1 2y ago

And those regs really DO keep people alive. Kobe Bryant's pilot had to get special permission to fly that day [0]. Too bad it was granted. If he'd been grounded for the fog, all nine people would have missed their morning's scheduled events but would still be alive. All take-offs are optional; landings are not optional. [0] https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/28/us/kobe-bryant-crash-timeline/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/28/us/kobe-bryant-crash-timeline...

rogerrogerr 2y ago
Eh, I mean, kinda. “Special” VFR isn’t special in that sense. It’s not something that anyone really reviews in the sense non-aviation people would assume by the words “special permission”. It’s much closer to some magic words you can say to fly VFR in what would otherwise be technically “too close to clouds”. You’re usually required to be hundreds or thousands of feet from clouds; SVFR trims that down to “don’t touch them”. Going into the clouds was still illegal. CNN framing it as “special permission” is… kinda true, but misleading in sentiment. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a controller turn down SVFR.
- RandomBacon 2y ago
  I've only been asked for and thus issued SFVR once in my career. SVFR cannot be solicited by the controller (same with cancelling IFR). I did have to turn down the SVFR request initially though, because it is a lower priority than IFR traffic, but once the IFR traffic was clear, I gave the SVFR clearance.
  - rogerrogerr 2y ago
    Does SVFR make traffic require IFR separation on your side? Can you still use visual separation? Curious about the details.
    - RandomBacon 2y ago
      Yes and Yes. FAA Order 7110.65 section 7-5-3 There are notes here: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap7_section_5.html https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html...
  - K0balt 2y ago
    In some places SVFR is very common. In Alaska, for example, or at least it was quite common to get SVFR clearances 20 years ago.

by toss1 2y ago

rogerrogerr 2y ago

Eh, I mean, kinda. “Special” VFR isn’t special in that sense. It’s not something that anyone really reviews in the sense non-aviation people would assume by the words “special permission”. It’s much closer to some magic words you can say to fly VFR in what would otherwise be technically “too close to clouds”. You’re usually required to be hundreds or thousands of feet from clouds; SVFR trims that down to “don’t touch them”. Going into the clouds was still illegal. CNN framing it as “special permission” is… kinda true, but misleading in sentiment. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a controller turn down SVFR.

RandomBacon 2y ago
I've only been asked for and thus issued SFVR once in my career. SVFR cannot be solicited by the controller (same with cancelling IFR). I did have to turn down the SVFR request initially though, because it is a lower priority than IFR traffic, but once the IFR traffic was clear, I gave the SVFR clearance.
- rogerrogerr 2y ago
  Does SVFR make traffic require IFR separation on your side? Can you still use visual separation? Curious about the details.
  - RandomBacon 2y ago
    Yes and Yes. FAA Order 7110.65 section 7-5-3 There are notes here: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap7_section_5.html https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html...
- K0balt 2y ago
  In some places SVFR is very common. In Alaska, for example, or at least it was quite common to get SVFR clearances 20 years ago.