EASA Flight Rules

GENERAL
RATE OF CLIMB/DESCENT RESTRICTIONS
Controlled Airspace: ≤ 8,000fpm
Unless: Air Defence FLT
Emergency
Uncontrolled Airspace: No Restriction
(Class F & G, TRAs, MTAs, MDAs or Danger Areas)

SUPERSONIC FLIGHT
Medium/High Level
In the UK FIR/UIR, supersonic FLTs are to be made over the sea.
HDG directly out to sea may be supersonic >10nm out and at least 20° divergent from the
mean line of the coast.
Aircraft pointing towards land, turning or flying parallel to the coast may be supersonic >35nm
from nearest coast line.
Low Level
As above but in addition following distances to be observed:
- Shipping and fixed/mobile oil/gas installations: 3nm
- Civilian/Military transport aircraft: ≥6nm
- Helicopter routes/corridors: 6nm

UNPRESSURISED AIRCRAFT
May operate with a cabin altitude ≤ 25,000ft
Pressure suit required above FL500

AEROBATIC FLIGHT
No operation: Within Class B, C, D, E airspace (airport)
Within limits of airways
Below 1,500ft AGL
Visibility > 3 SM
*Training aircraft below 5,000ft AGL

JETTISONING FUEL Not below 6,000ft AGL

MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES (MTR S)

Avoid: Uncontrolled airports (3nm or 1,500ft)
Class B, C and D airspace
Route entries at published entry/alternate entry points only
No speed restriction

ALTITUDE RESTRICTIONS
Congested Areas: 1,000ft above highest obstacle
Other: 500ft AGL
Noise Sensitive: 3,000ft AGL

SPEED LIMITATIONS
Below FL100: 250 KIAS (All Airspace Classes)

HOLDING AIRSPEED

LEVELS NORMAL CONDITIONS TURBULENT CONDITIONS

230 kts 280 kts
Up to 14,000ft
170 kts (Cat A & B) 170 kts (Cat A & B)
Above 14,000ft to 20,000ft 240 kts 280 kts or
0.8 Mach (whichever less)
Above 20,000ft to 34,000ft 265 kts
Above 34,000ft 0.83 Mach 0.83 Mach
 EASA Flight Rules

AIRSPACE & RESTRICTIONS

SQUAWK CODES

Code Reason
0021 Fixed Wing operating from a ship
0022 Rotary Wing operating from a ship
0023 Aircraft engaged in SAR operations
0033 Air Para dropping
7000 VFR
1301-1327 Air Defence flights
7001 Aircraft operating in the Low-flying System
7002 Aircraft operating in Danger Areas
7004 Aerobatics or General Manoeuvres (non ACM)
7005 Aircraft performing high-energy manoeuvres

SPECIAL VFR CoC/Surface in sight/1500m Vis (Note 1)

VFR

≤140 KIAS/Ceiling >600ft

Note 1: Helicopters 800m Vis

VISUAL CCTS 5km Visibility

Cloud Base 3/8 Otkas ≥1200ft AAL

VFR F UEL P LANNING

Contingency 5% of trip fuel OR 5 mins (whichever greater)
Alternate If alternate airport is required (destination)
Reserve 45 mins flying time

VFR FLIGHT MINIMA

ALTITUDE
AIRSPACE FLIGHT
BAND DISTANCE FROM CLOUD
CLASS VISIBILITY
(Note 1)
ABCDEFG 1500m horizontally
≥ 10,000ft AMSL 8 km
(Note 2) 1000ft vertically

< 10,000ft AMSL and >3000ft

AMSL
ABCDEFG 1500m horizontally
OR 5 km
(Note 2) 1000ft vertically
>1000ft terrain
(whichever higher)

≤ 3000ft AMSL ABCDE 5 km 1500m horizontally

OR (Note 2) 1000ft vertically
>1000ft above terrain
(whichever higher) FG 5 km CoC
(Note 3) In sight of surface

Note 1: Or if, any aircraft which is not a helicopter, at 3000ft AMSL or below and in day only at ≤140
KIAS: Coc and in sight of surface in FLT Viz of ≥5 km
Note 2: Or if a helicopter and flying by day at ≤3000ft AMSL: Coc and in sight of surface in FLT Viz
≥1500m
Note 3: FLT Viz reduced to not ≤1500m are permitted for FLTs operating:
a) ≤140 KIAS b) In areas of low traffic volume
 EASA Flight Rules

IFR
IFR DEPARTURES
Non-precision APP 300ft ceiling AGL/1 SM visibility
Precision APP 200ft ceiling/½ SM (2,400ft RVR)

Single Engine >600ft Cloud ceiling (>4/8 Otkas)

1800m visibility

IFR FUEL PLANNING

Contingency 5% of planned trip fuel OR
20 mins flying time at planned consumption (whichever higher)
Alternate If alternate airport is required (destination)
Reserve 30 mins flying time

INSTRUMENT APP MINIMA

Fixed Wing DH CAT I +200ft 600m RVR

MDH +250ft 600m RVR
DA CAT I TDZE +200ft 600m RVR
MDA TDZE +250ft 600m RVR
Rotary Wing DH CAT I +150ft 300m RVR
MDH +250ft 300m RVR
DA CAT I TDZE +150ft 300m RVR
MDA TDZE +250ft 300m RVR
CAT II DH +100ft ≥400m RVR
DA TDZE +100ft ≥400m RVR
CAT IIIA DH <100ft ≥200m RVR
DA TDZE <100ft ≥200m RVR
CAT IIIB DH <50ft <200m >75m
DA TDZE <50ft <200m >75m
WX: At or above lowest compatible APP minimums for ETA ± 1hr.

ALTERNATE
Required: Ceiling < 3000ft or Vis <3 SM or 2 SM more than lowest compatible minimum
(whichever greater).
Requirements: Ceiling 1000ft or 500ft above lowest compatible minimum (whichever greater).

NAVAID RECEPTION
< 18,000ft 40 NM
14,500 – 17,999ft 100 NM (continental USA ONLY)
18,000ft – FL450 130 NM
> FL450 100 NM

FLIGHT PLANS - Must be filed in the following circumstances:

Type of Airspace/FLT Type of FPL

All FLTs in Class A Airspace only IFR allowed

All FLTs within Controlled Airspace in IMC or at night (including SVFR) IFR

All FLTs within Controlled Airspace if conducted IFR IFR

All FLTs within Class B, C and D irrespective of WX IFR or VFR
Any FLT from a UK aerodrome to a destination >40 km from aerodrome of
IFR or VFR
departure and aircraft MAUM >5700 kg
All FLTs to or from the UK which cross the UK FIR Boundary IFR or VFR
EASA Flight Rules

CRUISING LEVELS

Above the Transition Altitude:

*If below the transition altitude, the levels should be flown as altitudes (3500ft, 4000ft etc.)

TRANSITION ALTITUDE

Outside Controlled Airspace: Generally 3000ft (UK)

TRANSITION ALTITUDE (FEET)

QNH (hPa)
3000 4000 5000 6000 18000

1032-1050 FL25 FL35 FL45 FL55 FL175

1014-1032 FL30 FL40 FL50 FL60 FL180

996-1013 FL35 FL45 FL55 FL65 FL185

978-995 FL40 FL50 FL60 FL70 FL190

960-977 FL45 FL55 FL65 FL75 FL195

943-959 FL50 FL60 FL70 FL80 FL200

 EASA Flight Rules

UK MILITARY COLOUR C ODES

Minimum WX Conditions

Surface Visibility Colour Code

Base of lowest Cloud layer (SCT or
RN/RAF USAF more) - AGL
KM NM KM NM
8 4.3 8 5 2500ft Blue
5 2.7 5 3 1500ft White
3.7 2 3.7 2.3 700ft Green
1.6 0.9 1.6 1 300ft Yellow
0.8 0.4 0.8 0.5 200ft Amber
Less than
0.8 0.4 0.8 0.5 below 200ft Red
Airport not usable for reason other than cloud or visibility minima. Black

Note: At RN airfields, colour code Yellow is sub-divided as follows

Yellow 1: Vis 2.5km (1.4nm)/Cloud base 500ft AGL
Yellow 2: Vis 1.6km (0.9nm)/Cloud base 300ft AGL