VFR On Top

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

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

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The article clarified several technical aviation points, including conditions for VFR on top clearances (and their unavailability in Canada), and correct power management for strong headwinds during a glide.
A substantial letter offered critical insights into mountain flying safety, emphasizing the need for prudence, respecting passenger vetoes, and learning from past mistakes and density altitude-related accidents.
Additional reader input included questioning the practical value of traditional "power-on stall" training and correcting 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.”