ENR 1.2  Visual flight rules

1.   INTRODUCTION

These regulations does not address European Stabilization Forces (EUFOR) flights, nor to the STATE flights of Bosnia and Herzegovina and they are therefore not subject to the limitations stated therein.
Regulations used in air traffic are given in the Aviation Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Aviation Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by-laws and rules available in English and the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found at http://www.bhdca.gov.ba.
1.1   Visual meteorological conditions, visual flight rules, special VFR flight rules
SERA.5001 VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima
VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima are contained in Table 1.
Table 1:
Altitude bandAirspace classFlight visibilityDistance from cloud
At and above 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL A2 B C D E F G8 KM1 500 m horizontally 300 m (1 000 ft) vertically
Below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL and above 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or above 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higherA2 B C D E F G 5 KM1 500 m horizontally 300 m (1000 ft) vertically
At and below 900 m (3 000 ft) AMSL, or 300 m (1000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higherA2 B C D E 5 KM1 500 m horizontally 300 m (1000 ft) vertically
F G5 KM3Clear of cloud and with the surface in sight
  1. When the height of the transition altitude is lower than 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, FL 100 shall be used in lieu of 10000 ft.
  2. The VMC minima in Class A airspace are included for guidance to pilots and do not imply acceptance of VFR flights in Class A airspace.
  3. When so prescribed by the BHDCA:
    1. flight visibilities reduced to not less than 1 500 m may be permitted for flights operating:
      1. at speeds of 140 kts IAS or less to 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 traffic and for aerial work at low levels;
    2. Helicopters may be permitted to operate in less than 1 500 m but not less than 800 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. Flight visibilities lower than 800 m may be permitted for special cases, such as medical flights, search and rescue operations and fire-fighting.
SERA.5005 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.
  2. Except when a special VFR 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 aerodrome traffic circuit when the reported meteorological conditions at that aerodrome are below the following minima:
    1. the ceiling is less than 450 m (1 500 ft); or
    2. the ground visibility is less than 5 km.
  3. When so prescribed by the BHDCA, VFR flights at night may be permitted under the following conditions:
    1. if leaving the vicinity of an aerodrome, a flight plan shall be submitted in accordance with SERA.4001(b)(6);
    2. flights shall establish and maintain two-way radio communication on the appropriate ATS communication channel, when available;
    3. the VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima as specified in Table 1 shall apply except that:
      1. the ceiling shall not be less than 450 m (1 500 ft);
      2. provisions on reduced visibility in flight from Table S5-1 (a) and (b) do not apply;
      3. in airspace classes B, C, D, E, F and G, at and below 900 m (3 000 ft) above MSL or 300 m (1 000 ft) above terrain, whichever is the higher, the pilot shall maintain continuous sight of the surface;
      4. for mountainous terrain, higher VMC visibility and distance from cloud minima may be prescribed by the BHDCA;
    4. except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except when specifically authorised by the BHDCA, a VFR flight at night shall be flown at a level which is not below the minimum flight altitude established by the State whose territory is overflown, or, where no such minimum flight altitude has been established:
      1. over high terrain or in mountainous areas, at a level which is at least 600 m (2 000 ft) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft;
      2. elsewhere than as specified in i), at a level which is at least 300 m (1 000 ft) above the highest obstacle located within 8 km of the estimated position of the aircraft.
  4. VFR flights shall not be operated:
    1. above FL 195. Exceptions to this requirement are the following:
      1. an airspace reservation has been established, where practical, by the BHDCA, in which VFR flights may be allowed; or
      2. airspace up to and including flight level 285, when VFR traffic in that airspace has been authorised by the responsible ATS unit in accordance with the authorization procedures established by the BHDCA and published in the relevant aeronautical information publication
    2. at transonic and supersonic speeds, unless authorized by the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina
  5. Authorisation for VFR flights to operate above FL 285 shall not be granted where a vertical separation minimum of 300 m (1 000 ft) is applied above FL 290.
  6. Except when necessary for take-off or landing, or except by permission from the BHDCA, 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 a height less than 300 m (1 000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m from the aircraft;
    2. elsewhere than as specified in (1), at a height less than 150 m (500 ft) above the ground or water, or 150 m (500 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 150 m (500 ft) from the aircraft.
  7. Except where otherwise indicated in air traffic control clearances or specified by the BHDCA, 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 BHDCA, shall be conducted at a cruising level appropriate to the track as specified in the table of cruising levels in Appendix 3.
  8. VFR flights shall comply with the provisions of Section 8:
    1. when operated within Classes B, C and D airspace;
    2. when forming part of aerodrome traffic at controlled aerodromes; or
    3. when operated as special VFR flights.
  9. A VFR flight operating within or into areas or along routes designated by the BHDCA, in accordance with SERA.4001(b)(3) or (4), shall maintain continuous air-ground voice communication watch on the appropriate communication channel of, and report its position as necessary to, the air traffic services unit providing flight information service.
  10. An aircraft operated in accordance with the visual flight rules which wishes to change to compliance with the instrument flight rules shall:
    1. if a flight plan was submitted, communicate the necessary changes to be effected to its current flight plan; or
    2. as required by SERA.4001(b), submit a flight plan to the appropriate air traffic services unit as soon as practicable and obtain a clearance prior to proceeding IFR when in controlled airspace.
SERA.5010 Special VFR in control zones
Special VFR flights may be authorised to operate within a control zone, subject to an ATC clearance. Except when permitted by the BHDCA for helicopters in special cases such as, but not limited to, police, medical, search and rescue operations and fire-fighting flights, the following additional conditions shall be applied:
  1. such special VFR flights may be conducted during day only, unless otherwise permitted by the BHDCA;
  2. by the pilot:
    1. clear of cloud and with the surface in sight;
    2. the flight visibility is not less than 1 500 m or, for helicopters, not less than 800 m;
    3. fly at a speed of 140 kts IAS or less to give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic and any obstacles in time to avoid a collision; and
  3. an air traffic control unit shall not issue a special VFR clearance to aircraft to take off or land at an aerodrome within a control zone, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or aerodrome traffic circuit when the reported meteorological conditions at that aerodrome are below the following minima:
    1. the ground visibility is less than 1 500 m or, for helicopters, less than 800 m;
    2. the ceiling is less than 180 m (600 ft).