sellener

I have read the AIM and the FAR on VFR on Top, and just dont quite get it. I wasnt able to find info on it searching the Forums. What I dont get:

1) Can I repeatedly climb/descend VFR to VFR altitudes (above MEA)while operating VFR on Top without advising ATC?

2) How does operating VFR on Top effect ATC's handling of seperation minimums between: VFR on Top aircraft vs. Normal IFR aircraft, and VFR on Top aircraft vs. VFR aircraft?


3) If Im operating VFR on Top and i need to avoid a VFR aircraft how do I go about it appropriately. Im supposed to be flying my IFR route so turning to avoid is deviating from my assigned route. Should I expect ATC to give me a vector? Or do I advise ATC of my deviation and call it good. If theres a lot of VFR traffic to avoid, it seems like a lot of clearence deviatons to report to ATC. Maybe I just dont quite understand?

4) Im flying from point A to point B IFR. Somewhere in between i decide i want to casually fly at my discretion on top of a ceiling but eventually still arrive at point B IFR. Short of cancelling my IFR and getting another one when im done screwing around, what can i do? VFR on top still restricts my route?

Thanks as always

floridaCFII

I'll let someone else chime in on the specifics of your regs related questions. What I will tell you is my experience of how VFR On Top works in the real world situations I've used it in.

I've never tried it on a flight to another airport (which seems to be what a lot of your questions are related to). I just file IFR and be done with it. What I use VFR on top for is getting out to the practice area when we have low ceilings and low tops.

I file an IFR flightplan, with "VFR On Top" in the remarks and let clearance know that when I call up. Every time I've done this, the student climbs out, we report when on-top, and approach lets us do whatever we want to, while keeping our IFR code. I've offered to cancel IFR, but they have always told me it's not necessary (usually with an instruction to remain above a certain altitude).

Twin Wasp

The AIM says a VFR on Top aircraft should 'advise' ATC before making an altitude change and it's listed in the reports to be made at all times in the Instrument Flight Proceedures handbook. The AIM also says ATC may provide traffic information but will provide separation in Class B and C. As to route, you've been told to maintain VFR. That means avoid clouds and other aircraft. An airway is 8 miles wide, if you've got to turn 4 miles for traffic you're in the wrong airspace. If you were on a regular IFR clearance, would you wait till you could get a word in to New York departure if you thought you were going to hit another aircraft?