What is the highest altitude allowable in SVFR?

What is the highest altitude allowable in SVFR?

• A. 1000' AGL
• B. 500' AGL
• C. 0' AGL
• D. 5000' MSL

Answer: (B)

Special VFR lets you operate in controlled airspace when the weather is below standard VFR minimums, but you must remain clear of clouds. Because SVFR operations are meant to keep flight essentially near the surface so you can stay visually separate from obstacles and traffic, there’s a practical ceiling for how high you can fly under SVFR. That ceiling is about 500 feet AGL. Above that height, you’re more likely to encounter or slip into cloud layers, which would violate the requirement to remain clear of clouds while flying SVFR. So the highest altitude allowed under SVFR is 500' AGL. The other options either imply higher altitudes that conflict with the near-surface, cloud-avoidance requirement or mix in MSL references that don’t apply to this surface-focused operation.

Special VFR lets you operate in controlled airspace when the weather is below standard VFR minimums, but you must remain clear of clouds. Because SVFR operations are meant to keep flight essentially near the surface so you can stay visually separate from obstacles and traffic, there’s a practical ceiling for how high you can fly under SVFR. That ceiling is about 500 feet AGL. Above that height, you’re more likely to encounter or slip into cloud layers, which would violate the requirement to remain clear of clouds while flying SVFR. So the highest altitude allowed under SVFR is 500' AGL. The other options either imply higher altitudes that conflict with the near-surface, cloud-avoidance requirement or mix in MSL references that don’t apply to this surface-focused operation.