Logging Approach Question

wrote in message
ups.com...

I don't see any need to harass him about that. It's quite clear to me
after reading his initial post only once that at some point during the
approach he was below the cloud clearance requirements for VMC.


What in his initial post indicated that to you?

Well, you're right it's not actually too clear. Although assuming he's
not lying, it seems likely that he's misusing the term VMC.

He says "I was in VMC the whole time yet it probably would have been
illegal to fly in VFR as I would have been close to the clouds". This
tells me he thinks he was too close to clouds at some point to be legal
for VFR. This further implies he is aware there exists a cloud
clearance requirement for legal VFR. So assuming he's not lying when he
estimates he was too close to them for VFR, then he must have
mistakenly used the term VMC to mean he remained clear of clouds.

At least that's the way I read it. The first time through.

On 17 Sep 2005 01:50:53 -0700, wrote:

Well, you're right it's not actually too clear. Although assuming he's
not lying, it seems likely that he's misusing the term VMC.

He says "I was in VMC the whole time yet it probably would have been
illegal to fly in VFR as I would have been close to the clouds". This
tells me he thinks he was too close to clouds at some point to be legal
for VFR. This further implies he is aware there exists a cloud
clearance requirement for legal VFR. So assuming he's not lying when he
estimates he was too close to them for VFR, then he must have
mistakenly used the term VMC to mean he remained clear of clouds.

Special VFR? It's still VFR rules, but just clear the clouds in the
airport area.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

At least that's the way I read it. The first time through.

Would the approach controller be able to give him a special VFR
clearance? I've only ever gotten one from a tower.


Roger wrote:
On 17 Sep 2005 01:50:53 -0700, wrote:

Well, you're right it's not actually too clear. Although assuming he's
not lying, it seems likely that he's misusing the term VMC.

He says "I was in VMC the whole time yet it probably would have been
illegal to fly in VFR as I would have been close to the clouds". This
tells me he thinks he was too close to clouds at some point to be legal
for VFR. This further implies he is aware there exists a cloud
clearance requirement for legal VFR. So assuming he's not lying when he
estimates he was too close to them for VFR, then he must have
mistakenly used the term VMC to mean he remained clear of clouds.

Special VFR? It's still VFR rules, but just clear the clouds in the
airport area.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

At least that's the way I read it. The first time through.

wrote in message
oups.com...

Would the approach controller be able to give him a special VFR
clearance? I've only ever gotten one from a tower.


The source of a SVFR clearance is the facility responsible for separation
within the surface area. That would probably be the overlying approach
control or center in the case of a VFR tower, but some VFR towers have been
delegated authority for SVFR. The tower is just relaying the SVFR clearance
as it would an IFR clearance.

"Roger" wrote in message
...

Special VFR? It's still VFR rules, but just clear the clouds in the
airport area.


SQL has no surface area when the tower's closed and SVFR is not available
outside of a surface area. Even if there'd been a surface area he couldn't
be SVFR as he was on an IFR clearance.