Commonwealth Numbered Regulations

1988 NO. 158 CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS - REG 172

172. (1) A V.F.R. flight shall not be conducted:

   (a)  at a height of, or less than, 2,000 feet above ground or water; or

   (b)  at such other times (if any) as the Authority directs; unless the
        pilot in command of the aircraft is able to navigate by reference to
        the ground or water.

(2) Except as provided in subregulation (3) and to the extent that the
appropriate Air Traffic Control unit otherwise directs, a V.F.R. flight shall
not be conducted at a height that is less than 5,000 feet above mean sea level
unless the flight visibility is equal to or greater than 5,000 metres and the
aircraft is flown at a distance equal to or greater than 600 metres
horizontally and 500 feet vertically from cloud.

(3) Notwithstanding the requirements of subregulation (2), a helicopter that
is flown:

   (a)  with a flight visibility of less than 5,000 metres but equal to or
        greater than 800 metres;

   (b)  clear of cloud at a height of less than 700 feet above the ground or
        water;

   (c)  at a distance of not less than 10 miles from an aerodrome for which an
        instrument approach procedure has been approved; and

   (d)  at such a speed that the pilot in command has an adequate opportunity
        to observe any obstructions or other air-traffic in sufficient time to
        avoid a collision; may conduct a V.F.R. flight outside
        controlled airspace.