Flying VFR and getting through clouds!!!

[Juicegoose]

Okay guys call me an idiot but I was a little confused with something. I'm a VFR pilot and there have been a couple times where i've encountered the puffy little clouds. Nothing major of course and i just either stay below them if mins and the altitude allow it or get above them. Today as i was looking out into the sky(you know what I mean). the cloud layer was almost solid of in the distance. It wasn't tall growing stuff just light layer like frosting in the air. If i were a vfr pilot flying along and found myself getting below stuff like this where the cloud cover was pretty much constant. But was able to find a hole to get me above the clouds(let say bottoms at 2000 and tops at 2500..thin clouds!!!). Am I legally able to stay above those clouds. There are no clouds above me and clear sky but I can not see the ground below me at all for the thin layer. it's just a random question I thought about

[N941WR]

You are legal to fly above a cloud deck. The getting down part is the issue.

If you are an LSA pilot, I think you have to stay below the clouds at all times. Someone correct me on this.

[N395V]

As long as you comply with the FARs relative to cloud clearance and visibility for the airspace you are in you are legal.

Safety and the wisdom of this situation are however another matter . If your engine quits are you and your plane capable of descending through this thin layer?

If not then I would say you are illegal from the standpoint of the FAR about careless or recklless operation.

[Phil]

Perfectly legal.

Just be positive that you have clear air ahead to get back down.

[John_RV4]

Says to continue 5 minutes and if you don't see ground somewhere nearby, it's time to go back and descend below the clouds. A couple of times I've climbed high to get a better look around. But most of us (VFR types) won't continue for any distance above a layer.

This seems to happen to me all the time :-(.

John

[kentb]

Originally Posted by N941WR

You are legal to fly above a cloud deck. The getting down part is the issue.

If you are an LSA pilot, I think you have to stay below the clouds at all times. Someone correct me on this.

LSA needs to have visual contact with the ground at all times.

Kent

[Ron Lee]

The first time I went over a solid cloud deck had these factors:

1) Thin (300' thick?)

2) Warm temps so should not have been a freezing issue in them

3) Bottom of clouds 3000-4000' AGL

4) Wing leveler autopilot available

[ddnebert]

This spring, going to Sun-n-Fun, there was a flat cloud deck for about 50 miles over Virginia. Looking ahead and knowing that it would all clear out (same with discontinuous ground fog) it was great to have the XM weather on-board the 496. Yes, we had autopilot and IFR experience on-board, but the air was very stable and the layer was thin...

As for getting through clouds, you need to go up/down around them through a scattered layer, officially maintaining minimum distances, for VFR flight.

[TSwezey]

It's called VFR on Top. I have flown hundreds of miles on top but I knew where I was going was clear and that I could stay above the cloud layer. It's challenging sometimes and sometimes you have to back track 50 miles to get back to an opening. If you are going to do it make sure you are capable of surviving an encounter with clouds in case of an emergency. Being Instrument rated or have significant hood and actual time is a must though as far as I am concerned if you are taking long journeys on top.

[nturner]

I thought for VFR flight you have to maintain sight of the ground at all times. This is to allow for emergency landings because how do you know there isn't a mountain there when forced to break through the cloud. Plus for navigating how can you see where you are going or where you are, a GPS isn't VFR.