"Howard Nelson" wrote in message
. com...

He actually issued the clearance all the way to my dest. However, it
was a climb maintain...if not on top by... to VFR on top clearance.
Apparently if he didn't do the VFR on top in the clearance he would
have to wait for the clearance.


I thought that VFR ON TOP was a segment of an IFR flight plan where you
maintain VFR cruise altitudes and visual separation until you resume IFR
altitudes and IFR separation as needed by weather or for arrival.


It is.



Here on the California coast were stratus can force an IFR departure to
about 2000ft I ask for an "IFR departure for climb to VFR conditions" with
a
clearance from my field to a VOR about 20NM away. Well before I am more
than
5 miles from my departure I am above the fog and can cancel IFR and ask
for
VFR flight following.


In my experience, that's what most people are looking for when they request
VFR-on-top. They're issued the whole "climb to and report reaching
VFR-on-top, no tops reports, if not on top at 4000 maintain 4000 and advise"
in lieu of a hard IFR altitude. They depart, climb through the clouds,
cancel IFR, and proceed on their merry way without having operated
VFR-on-top at all.