Definitions

My Definitions.

VFR

Visual Flight Rules. The minimum standards for flying without instruments is 1,000 foot ceiling, three miles visibility during the day (five miles visibility at night), clear of clouds. Clear of clouds means that you must stay at least 500 feet below the clouds, 1,000 feet above the clouds, and 2,000 feet from the clouds horizontally.

IFR

When VFR conditions prohibit you from flying, you must fly by Instrument Flight Rules. This takes additional training to be certified for IFR flight. Just imagine not being able to see outside the cockpit window. You must rely on your instruments to fly your aircraft.

Sectionals

Sectionals are maps used by pilots. They give very specific information about airports, radio frequencies to use while contacting different airports, information about the terrain, and navigation aids. The FAA requires all pilots to have a current sectional in their posession while pilotng an aircraft.