VFR On Top

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 05:47 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Readers clarified specific aviation procedures, noting that VFR on top can allow flying below MEA/MOCA if properly requested, and that Canada does not approve VFR-on-top clearances.
A correction was issued regarding windshear, stating that a strong headwind actually requires a *higher* power setting to maintain glidepath.
Pilots shared critical insights on mountain flying, emphasizing the importance of prudent decision-making, listening to passenger concerns, learning from close calls, and exercising extreme caution with density altitude.
Further feedback questioned the utility of certain power-on stall training methods and corrected misidentified aircraft in a previous article.

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I just want to correct something in your “IFR Rules, VFR Tools” article (August 2022). On page 10 in the blue box, it says, “Of course, you must fly no lower than the published MEA or MOCA.”

Actually, one of the advantages of VFR on top is to be able to fly lower than the MEA or MOCA. You can get this if you request VFR on top at a VFR altitude and add the phrase “and I’ll be responsible for my own terrain clearance.”