VATSIM P.R.China DivisionVATSIM P.R.China Division

A. Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Operating Rules

A. Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Operating Rules

  • Aircraft operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) must obtain clearance from the appropriate controller for the airspace if they are flying at altitudes above 6,000 meters (exclusive), conducting transonic or supersonic flight, or flying below 3,000 meters (exclusive) with an indicated airspeed greater than 450 km/h.
  • Aircraft within Tower and Approach control areas must obtain corresponding VFR clearances from Approach and Tower.
  • At airports where a Tower controller is online, VFR pilots must obtain clearance from the Tower.
  • Weather conditions set in the pilot's simulator must meet the minimum weather standards for basic Visual Flight Rules.
  • When implementing VFR flight, the pilot must maintain vigilant lookout. The aircraft must maintain specific horizontal and vertical distances from clouds. Under VFR, the pilot is responsible for maintaining separation between aircraft and ensuring safe altitude above ground obstacles.
  • Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) reserve the right to suspend VFR operations for special reasons (usually due to traffic volume).
  • Aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) have priority over aircraft operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

B. VFR Flight Plan

1. Visual Flight Rules

VFR flight within the local airfield airspace is permitted if the local weather meets Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). Cross-country VFR flight is permitted if current weather reports, or a combination of reports and forecasts, indicate that weather at the departure, enroute, and destination meets VMC.

2. Requirements for VFR Flight Plans

The VFR flight plan submitted by the pilot must include the following:

  • Aircraft registration and radio callsign
  • Aircraft type
  • Departure point and estimated time of departure (ETD)
  • Planned route, cruising altitude (or flight level), and true airspeed at that altitude
  • First intended point of landing and estimated time of arrival (ETA)
  • Fuel endurance (in time)
  • Number of crew and passengers on board
  • Other relevant information in the Remarks section if necessary
Route Requirements

VFR routes may consist of the following elements:

  • Airways and waypoints
  • Ground-based navigation aids (VOR, NDB, OM, IM, etc.)
  • Landmarks or geographical names
  • Physical geographical features (e.g., coastlines, canyons, etc.)

3. Requirements when Requesting VFR Clearance

The pilot should state the following to ATC:

  • Aircraft type
  • Altitude
  • Intentions (local pattern work, flight direction, or destination airport)

Upon receiving ATC approval, confirm:

  • Flight clearance
  • Cleared altitude
  • Squawk code
  • If the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) intends to cancel the flight plan after it has become effective, they must report to the ATC unit.

C. Minimum Weather Standards for Basic VFR

This section defines the minimum weather standards. VFR flight is only permitted when the weather conditions set in the pilot's simulator are not lower than the following standards:

  1. At or above 3,000 meters MSL (Mean Sea Level), visibility must be at least 8 km. Below 3,000 meters MSL, visibility must be at least 5 km. Horizontal distance from clouds must be at least 1,500 meters, and vertical distance must be at least 300 meters.
  2. At or below 900 meters MSL or 300 meters AGL (Above Ground Level), whichever is higher: If clear of clouds and with the surface in sight, VFR flight is permitted with visibility not less than 1,600 meters, provided one of the following conditions is met:
  • The aircraft speed is low enough to provide adequate opportunity to observe and avoid other traffic and obstacles.
  • In areas where air activity is sparse and the probability of collision is low.
  1. Under the conditions of (2), helicopters are permitted to fly VFR with flight visibility less than 1,600 meters.

D. Local Circuits

1. General Rules

  • The standard circuit is a Left-Hand circuit. A Right-Hand pattern may be used due to terrain, city restrictions, or to avoid conflict with neighboring airport circuits.
  • Overtaking aircraft of the same type is prohibited while flying in the circuit.

2. Separation in circuits

  • Horizontal spacing between aircraft should be maintained at 1,500 meters (approx. 4,900 ft / 0.8 NM) or more.
  • With ATC permission, a faster aircraft may overtake a slower aircraft before the third turn (Base leg turn). Overtaking should be done on the outside of the preceding aircraft with a minimum separation of 200 meters (approx. 660 ft / 0.1 NM).
  • Except for aircraft requiring an emergency landing, no aircraft shall overtake another on the inside.
  • Normally, a departing aircraft may enter the runway with ATC permission if no other aircraft is on final (after the fourth turn). If the runway is clear, it may take off.
  • During takeoff and landing, the succeeding aircraft must maintain the prescribed safety interval from the preceding aircraft.

Current VATPRC VFR Routes

Pearl River Delta Area

ZGSZ (Shenzhen) ↔ VHHH (Hong Kong)

  • KEVAR – URBOR – LAXUS – LUKBU
  • Maintain 300m or below.

ZGSZ (Shenzhen) ↔ VMMC (Macau)

  • KEVAR – URBOR – PEXEL – ZAO (Jiuzhou)
  • Maintain 300m or below.

Guangzhou FIR ↔ Hong Kong FIR

  • Route Code: H
  • HG (Henggang) – PS (Pingshan) – AT (Aotou) – SS (Xingshan) – H (HOTEL)
  • Maintain 600m or below.

Guangzhou FIR ↔ Hong Kong FIR

  • Route Code: HT
  • HG (Henggang) – PS (Pingshan) – AT (Aotou) – HMS (Huangmaoshan) – QZ (Qingzhou)
  • Maintain 600m or below.

Guangzhou FIR ↔ Hong Kong FIR

  • Route Code: VH
  • HG (Henggang) – PS (Pingshan) – DP (Dapeng)
  • Maintain 600m or below.

Guangzhou FIR ↔ Hong Kong FIR

  • Route Code: VW
  • ZAO (Jiuzhou) – U (UNIFORM) – VW (VICTOR WHISKEY)
  • Segment ZAO to U: Maintain 150m or below when HK is using Runway 07; 250m or below when HK is using Runway 25.
  • Segment U to VW: Maintain 300m or below.

For full details, please refer to the Letters of Agreement (LOA).

Chengdu (Chinese Only)

关于VATPRC开展成都低空空域试验的通知

Sanya (Chinese Only)

ZJSY（Sanya）-> ZJHK（Haikou）

  • TLG（Tie Lu Guang）- LIS（Ling Shui）- NYW（Nan Yan Wan） - GB（Gang Bei） - BAG（Bo’ao Gang） - WC（Wen Chang） - SJ（San Jiang）
  • Altitude by ATC

ZJHK（Haikou）-> ZJSY（Sanya）

YLW（Yue Liang Wan） - LGG（Lei Gong Gang） - LG（Lin Gao） - HT（Hai Tou） - GPL（Gao Po Ling Shui Ku） - SQG（San Qu Gou Shui Ku） - SYX（San Ya）

  • Altitude by ATC

Charts available at: Hainan-VFR