Unable VFR On Top
Joe Shelton’s “On Top of the World” article in August and the letters about it since have all missed one important point. VFR on Top is just another altitude assignment while on an IFR flight plan. Like any altitude assignment, ATC may or may not grant it to you.
Readback: November 2013
Key Takeaways:
- "VFR on Top" is an ATC altitude assignment that is not always granted, particularly in busy airspace, rather than a pilot's choice.
- The IFR-required clock must be an aircraft-installed instrument displaying hours, minutes, and seconds, with simple timers not meeting this regulation.
- New FAA guidance specifies that transponders should be left in altitude reporting mode (or automatic ground mode for Mode S) when moving on the airport surface for ATC visibility.
- Pilots must comply with approach crossing restrictions outside the Final Approach Fix even if on a glidepath, and approaches with a published DA (like LNAV/VNAV) guarantee obstacle clearance below the DA to the runway.
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