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Minimum Heights for VFR Flights
Minimum Heights for VFR Flights
(A) General minimum height requirements
A pilot-in-command of an aircraft must not operate the aircraft under VFR:
(1) Over a congested area or open-air assembly
Over any congested area of a city, town or settlement, or over any open-air assembly of persons, at a height of less than:
1000 feet above the surface; or
1000 feet above any obstacle within a horizontal radius of 600 metres from the point immediately below the aircraft.
(2) Over any other area
At a height:
less than 500 feet above the surface; or
less than 500 feet above any obstacle, person, vehicle, vessel or structure within a horizontal radius of 150 metres from the point immediately below the aircraft.
(3) Emergency landing requirement
For any operation, at a height less than that required to execute an emergency landing following engine failure without hazard to persons or property on the surface.
Key minimum heights
| Area | Minimum height | Horizontal distance |
|---|---|---|
| Congested area or open-air assembly | 1000 ft | 600 m |
| Any other area | 500 ft | 150 m |
(B) Operations where paragraph (A) does not apply
Paragraph (A) does not apply when the pilot-in-command is: