SVFR at Class G airports

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beachbound

New Member
Do you need a SVFR clearance for class G airports if the class E airspace above it has been extended down to 700' above the surface of that specific airport (obviously conditions would be IMC in this situation). For example if ceiling is 600ft and visibility is 1 mile, would I need to contact ATC for a SVFR clearance into KELA.
 
beachbound said:
Do you need a SVFR clearance for class G airports if the class E airspace above it has been extended down to 700' above the surface of that specific airport (obviously conditions would be IMC in this situation). For example if ceiling is 600ft and visibility is 1 mile, would I need to contact ATC for a SVFR clearance into KELA.
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No, as you're just straight VFR in G.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
...and SVFR is not available. As the SVFR reg says...
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What he said.

§91.157 Special VFR weather minimums.
(a) Except as provided in appendix D, section 3, of this part, special VFR operations may be conducted under the weather minimums and requirements of this section, instead of those contained in §91.155, below 10,000 feet MSL within the airspace contained by the upward extension of the lateral boundaries of the controlled airspace designated to the surface for an airport.
 
auw2fly said:
Perhaps more importantly, why are you trying to land VFR at an airport with weather 600 and 1?
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Agreed, 600-1 is unsafe in most cases; I was mainly covering my bases by describing an extreme situation. The FARs confused me though because they almost seem to say that the lateral surface area beneath class E airspace that has been lowered to 700ft agl requires a SVFR clearance even though it is technically class G from the surface of the airport up to 700ft. There us of the phrase "lateral surface area" seems conspicuous to me rather than just using the word airspace.

2. Only within the lateral boundaries of Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface areas, below 10,000 feet MSL.

b. SVFR operations may be authorized for aircraft operating in or transiting a Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E surface area when the primary airport is reporting VFR but the pilot advises that basic VFR cannot be maintained.
 
beachbound said:
The FARs confused me though because they almost seem to say that the lateral surface area beneath class E airspace that has been lowered to 700ft agl requires a SVFR clearance even though it is technically class G from the surface of the airport up to 700ft. There us of the phrase "lateral surface area" seems conspicuous to me rather than just using the word airspace
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Surface area means controlled airspace that goes all the way to the surface. Class B, and C core areas. Class D airspace. And Class E airspace when specifically designated to the surface (dashed magenta line on the sectional).

"lateral surface area beneath class E airspace that has been lowered to 700ft agl " is not a "surface area" it's just class G airspace. Here's the definition from the Pilot/Controller Glossary:

SURFACE AREA−

The airspace contained by the
lateral boundary of the Class B, C, D, or E airspace
designated for an airport that begins at the surface and
extends upward.
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All the regs pertaining to SVFR reference surface areas, therefore they couldn't possibly be referring to the Class G airspace underlying an E shelf.
 
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