Aviation glossary

What is VMC?

Visual Meteorological Conditions

VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions) is weather good enough to fly visually, meeting the minimum visibility and distance-from-cloud requirements for VFR.

VMC describes weather equal to or better than the minimum visibility, distance from cloud and ceiling required to fly under Visual Flight Rules. The exact minima depend on the airspace class and altitude.

When conditions fall below these minima, they become Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).

Related terms

IMCIMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) is weather below the visual minima, where flight must be by reference to instruments.VFRVFR (Visual Flight Rules) is flying by visual reference to the ground and horizon, in weather at or above the visual minima.Flight category (VFR, MVFR, IFR, LIFR)Flight category is a colour-coded summary of conditions (VFR, MVFR, IFR or LIFR) derived from the cloud ceiling and visibility.

Weather and flying, sorted

flyWilco puts live METAR/TAF, currency and approvals on one booking board built for UK flying schools and clubs. Free to start, no card required.

Live airfield weatherExplore features