ENR 1  General rules and procedures

ENR 1.2   Visual flight rules

1.Except when operating as a Special VFR flight, VFR flights shall be conducted so that the aircraft is flown in conditions of visibility and distance from clouds equal to or greater than those specified in Table 1 below.
 
2.Except when a clearance is obtained from an air traffic control unit, VFR flights shall not take off or land at an aerodrome within a control zone, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or traffic pattern:
 
  1. When the ceiling is less than 1500ft (450m), or
  2. When the ground visibility less than 5 km.
 
3.Unless authorized by the Department of Civil Aviation, VFR flights shall not be operated between the period of half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise.
 
4.VFR flights shall not be operated:
 
  1. Above altitude 19,000 feet
  2. At transonic and supersonic speeds
 
5.Except when necessary for take-off or landing or except by permission from the Department of Civil Aviation, a VFR flight shall not be flown:
 
  1. Over the congested areas of cities, towns or settlements or over an open-air assembly of persons at an altitude less than 600 m (2,000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m (2,000 ft) from the aircraft;
  2. Elsewhere than as specified in (5) at an altitude less than 150 m (500 ft) above the ground or water.
 
 
TABLE 1
AIRSPACE CLASSDEG
Distance from cloud1,500 m horizontally and 300 m (1,000 ft) vertically1,500 m horizontally and 300 m (1,000 ft) verticallyClear of clouds and in sight of the surface
Flight visibility8 Km at or above 3050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL 5 Km below 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL8 Km at or above 3050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL 5 Km below 3,050 m (10,000 ft) AMSL5 Km*
a)lower flight visibilities to 1,500 m may be permitted for flights operating:
  1. at speeds that, in the prevailing visibility, will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision; or
  2. in circumstances in which the probability of encounters with other traffic would normally be low e.g. in areas of low volume of traffic and for aerial work at low levels.
b)Helicopters may be permitted to operate in less than 1,500 m flight visibility, if manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid a collision.
 
6.Except where otherwise indicated in air traffic control clearances or specified by the Department of Civil Aviation, VFR flights in cruising altitudes when operated above 900 m (3,000 ft) from the ground or water, shall be conducted at an altitude appropriate to the track as specified in the tables of cruising levels.
 
7.VFR flights shall comply with the provision of 3.6 of the ICAO Annex 2:
 
  1. When operated within Class D, E and Class G airspaces (Belizean airspace);
  2. When forming part of aerodrome traffic at controlled aerodromes; or
  3. When operated as Special VFR flights.
 
8.An aircraft operated in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules that wishes to change to compliance to Instrument Flight Rules shall:
 
  1. If a flight plan was submitted, communicate to the Belize Air Traffic Services Unit the necessary changes to be effected to its current flight plan, or
  2. When so required by 3.3 of ICAO Annex 2, submit a flight plan to the Belize Air Traffic Services Unit and obtain a clearance prior to proceeding IFR.
 
9.Special VFR flights shall be approved by the Belize Approach Control Unit when the following conditions apply:
 
  1. For such authorizations, it must be requested separately; and
  2. Below VFR minimums when the Ground visibility is not less than 1,500 m.
 
Clearance for Special VFR flight in the Control Zone in Belizean airspace is an authorization by ATC for a pilot to fly within a Control Zone although he is unable to comply with IFR. Only one Special VFR flight should be in the Control Zone at a time. Special VFR clearance is only granted when traffic conditions permit it to take place without hindrance to the normal IFR flights. Without prejudice to existing weather limitations on Special VFR flights at P.S.W.G, Int´l. ATC will not issue a Special VFR clearance to any fixed wing aircraft intending to depart from an aerodrome within a Control Zone, when the official meteorological report indicates that the ground visibility is less than 1,500 m.
 
When operating on Special VFR clearance, the pilot must comply with ATC instructions and remain at all times in flight conditions which enable him to determine his flight path and keep clear of obstacles. Therefore, it is implicit in all Special VFR clearances that the aircraft remains clear of cloud and in sight of the surface. It may be necessary for ATC purposes to impose an altitude limitation on a Special VFR clearance, which will require the pilot to fly either at or not above a specific altitude based on the current QNH.
 
A full ICAO flight plan form, CAD, ATC F-50, is not required for Special VFR flights intending to operate within the Belize CTR, but ATC must be given full flight details of the aircraft call sign, type and pilot’s intentions. These details may be passed either by RTF or, by telephone to the ATC Officer in Charge.
 
Requests for Special VFR clearance to enter a Control Zone, or transit a Control Zone, and in this case the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, may be made to Belize Aerodrome/Approach Control whilst airborne. Aircraft departing from aerodromes adjacent to a Control Zone boundary and wishing to enter, are to obtain Special VFR clearance either prior to take-off by telephone or by RTF when airborne. In any case, all such requests must specify the ETA for the selected entry point and must be made 5-10 minutes beforehand.
 
ATC will provide standard separation as required in Airspace Class D between all Special VFR flights and between such flights and other aircraft operating under the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
 
Because Special VFR flights are made at the lower altitudes, it is important for pilots to realize that a Special VFR clearance does not absolve them from the need to comply with the relevant low flying restrictions of the Rules specified in the Belize Civil Aviation Regulations (BCAR) (other than 1500 ft rule where the clearance permits flight below that altitude). In particular, it does not absolve pilots from the requirement that an aircraft, other than a helicopter, flying over congested areas must fly at such altitude as would enable it to clear the area and alight without danger to persons or property on the ground in the event of an engine failure and that a helicopter, whether flying over a congested area or not, must fly at such an altitude as would enable it to alight without danger to persons or property on the grounds in the event of an engine failure.
 
10.Belize TMA/CTR Procedures
 
All VFR flights inbound to the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, or the Belize City Municipal Airport when within 25 nm range of the International Airport, be at an altitude below 3,000ft and when within the CTR (10nm range of the International Airport), be at an altitude below 2,000ft.
 
All VFR flights departing from the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport or Belize City Municipal Airport are to fly at an altitude below 2,000ft whilst within the CTR (10 nm range of the International Airport) and outside the CTR, below 3,000ft until beyond 25 nm range from the International Airport.
 
11.Procedures for VFR Aircraft
 
Due to the proximity of the Belize City Municipal Airport to the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport the following procedures are necessary for “VFR” aircraft arriving and departing the Belize Terminal Control Area (TMA) and the Control Zone (CTR). This is even more demanding during “IMC” conditions and when Instrument Approach Procedures for Runway 25 are in progress.
 
Arriving Flights
 
Arriving flights are required to contact Goldson Radar (121.0 MHz) prior to entering the Belize TMA/CTR and make position reports with reference to geographical locations shown on local maps. It may be necessary, depending on the traffic situation for ATC to route VFR traffic through or around the CTR by specifying a route marked by specific landmark. It is therefore very important and necessary that pilots familiarize themselves with the landmarks in the vicinity of and within the Belize TMA/CTR which may be used as VFR reporting points.
 
Departing Flights
 
VFR departing flights shall remain under the jurisdiction of Goldson Radar Approach until such aircraft have reported leaving the geographic limits of the Belize CTR/TMA.