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.

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:

when the ceiling is less than 450 m (1 500 ft); or

when the ground visibility is less than 5 km.

3. VFR flights between sunset and sunrise, or such other period between sunset and sunrise as may be prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority, shall be operated only by military flights in accordance with the conditions prescribed by such authority

4. Unless authorized by the appropriate ATS authority, VFR flights shall not be operated:

above FL 200;

at transonic and supersonic speeds.

5. Except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except by permission from the appropriate authority, a VFR flight shall not be flown:

over the congested areas of cities, towns or settlements or over an openair assembly of persons at a height less than 300 m ( 1000 ft) [ for TNCM 600 m (2000 ft)] above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m from the aircraft;

elsewhere than as specified in 5 a), at a height less than 150 m (500 ft) above the ground or water

6. Except where otherwise indicated in air traffic control clearances or specified by the appropriate ATS authority, VFR flights in level cruising flight when operated above 900 m (3 000 ft) from the ground or water, or a higher datum as specified by the appropriate ATS authority, shall be conducted at a flight level appropriate to the track as specified in the tables of cruising levels.

7. VFR flights shall comply with the provisions of 3.6 of ICAO Annex 2:

when operated within Classes B, C and D airspace;

when forming part of aerodrome traffic at controlled aerodromes; or

when operated as special VFR flights.

8. An aircraft operated in accordance with the visual flight rules which wishes to change to compliance with the instrument flight rules shall:

if a flight plan was submitted, communicate the necessary changes to be effected to its current flight plan, or

when so required by 3.3 of ICAO Annex 2, submit a flight plan to the appropriate air traffic services unit and obtain a clearance prior to proceeding IFR when in controlled airspace.

Table 1

Airspace class	B	C D E	F	G
			ABOVE 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or above 300 m (1000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher	At and below 900 m (3000 ft) AMSL or 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher
Distance from cloud	Clear of cloud	1 500 m horizontally 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically		Clear of cloud and in sight of the surface
Flight visibility	8 km at and above 3 050 m (10000 ft) AMSL 5 km below 3 050 m (10000 ft) AMSL			5 km**
* When the height of the transition altitude is lower than 3050 M (10000 ft) AMSL, FL 100 should be used in lieu of 10000 ft ** When so prescribed by the appropriate ATS authority Lower flight visibilities to 1500 m may be permitted for flights operating At speeds that, in the prevailing visibility, will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision; or In circumstances in which the probability of encounters with other traffic would normally be low, e.g. in areas of low volume traffic and for aerial work at low levels. 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 collision.

9. Special VFR flights may be authorized subject to the approval of the unit providing approach control service to enter the control zone for the purpose of landing or to take off and depart directly from the control zone provided that:

The ground visibility is not less 1500 m;

Separation shall be effected between all IFR flights and special VFR flights;

Separation shall be effective between special VFR flights.

10. Special rules and procedures for military and coastguard operations

Military air traffic shall adhere to rules and regulations for general aviation traffic as laid down in this AIP However, due to operational necessity the following exceptions have been made for Operational Air Traffic.

10.1. Minimum altitudes for military and coastguard air traffic

10.1.1. General

Except for take-off and landing the following minima apply for VFR flights:

Elsewhere: for fixed wing aircraft at least 500 ft above ground or water, for helicopters at least 150 ft above ground or water.

10.2. Authorized low flying

For authorized low flying the minima as mentioned in 10.1.1. may be lowered as follows:

10.2.1. Minimum low flying altitude over water

Over territorial waters the minima are For fixed wing aircraft at least 100 ft above water and for helicopters at least 50 ft above water, provided the following conditions are met:

A distance of 1 NM from the coastline has to be maintained;

Obstacles have to be avoided

10.2.2. When operational necessity so requires fixed wing aircraft may descent for short duration to at least 50 ft above water, provided the following conditions are met:

A distance of 1 NM from the coastline has to be maintained;

Obstacles have to be avoided

10.2.3. Only when operational necessity so requires fixed wing aircraft and helicopters during flight within a distance of 1 NM from the coastline, may descent below 50 ft above water or as much lower as required to fulfill their missions or complete essential operational training flights.

10.2.4. Minimum low flying over land

For fixed wing aircraft at least 250 ft above ground or water and for helicopters at least 100 ft above ground or water

Only when operational necessity so requires helicopters, may descent below 100 ft above ground or water or as much lower as required to fulfill their missions or complete essential operational training flights.

11. VFR Night flying

For operational reasons military flights between SS and SR may be carried out as VFR flights. The following conditions have to be met:

11.1. Minimum altitude

Except for take-off or landing the following minima apply for VFR night flying:

11.1.1. Over built-up areas, industrial areas (petrochemical industries excluded), harbour areas and gatherings of people: for fixed wing aircraft at least 1000 ft and for helicopters at least 700 ft above the highest obstacle within 2000 ft distance from the aircraft.

11.1.2. Above petrochemical industries at least 2500 ft above ground or water.

11.1.3. Elsewhere:

for fixed wing aircraft:

over land and over sea till a distance of 1 NM form the coastline: at least 1000 ft above ground or water

over sea more than a distance of 1 NM from the coastline: at least 300 ft above water.

for helicopters:

over land and over sea till a distance of 1 NM form the coastline: at least 300 ft above ground or water;

over sea more than a distance of 1 NM from the coastline: at least 150 ft above water.

11.2. Weather conditions

For VFR nightflying the following meteorological conditions have to be met:

11.2.1. Flight visibility has to be 5 km or more.

11.2.2. Horizontal distance to clouds has to be 600 m or more.

11.2.3. Vertical distance to clouds has to be 150 m or more

11.3. Routes and areas

VFR night flights must be executed either:

11.3.1. Along approved routes and altitudes or flight levels or;

11.3.2. Within approved areas.

12. Flightplanning

Rules as laid down in this AIP about filing of flightplans will be adhered to according to ENR 1.10, except:

12.1. For SAM and SAR flights, it is permitted to make a flight notification by R/T or telephone if unable to comply with the submission of a flightplan as indicated in this AIP or if the filing of a flightplan would cause unacceptable delays

12.2. For military flights, when operating as a hospital or ambulance flight, it is permitted to make a flight notification by R/T or telephone if unable to comply with the submission of a flightplan as indicated in this AIP or if the filing of a flightplan would cause unacceptable delays.

12.3. For reservation of military exercise airspace a notification shall be given at least 14 working days in advance to the appropriate ATS authority, in order to facilitate adequate NOTAM action.

13. Special Procedure for the Beatrix Control Zone

14. Authorization for incidental flights.

Flights of a specific characters, requiring special handling by ATC, e.g. a photo flight for which structural change such as removal of doors etc. have been made the aircraft involved, may be carried out provided prior permission has been obtained from the Appropriate ATS authority at least one working day before the intended day of operation at:

Department of Civil Aviation
Air Traffic Safety Division
Sabana Berde 73-B
Oranjestad
Aruba
Tel: (297) 523-2665
Telefax: (297) 582-3038

ENR 1 GENERAL RULES AND PROCEDURES

ENR 1.2 VISUAL FLIGHT RULES