ENR 1.2  VISUAL FLIGHT RULES

1.   General rules

1.1.  Except when operating as a special VFR flight, VFR flights shall be conducted so that the aircraft is flown in conditions, equal to or greater than those specified in the table below:
Conditions of visibility and distance from clouds
Altitude bandAirspace class:Flight visibility: Distance from cloud:
At and above FL 100 (3 050 M STD)C, D8 KM 1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT (300 M) vertically
Between FL 100 (3 050 M STD) and 3 000 FT (900 M) AMSL, or 1 000 FT (300 M) above terrain, whichever is the higherC, D, F, G 5 KM
At and below 3 000 FT (900 M) AMSL, or 1 000 FT (300 M) above terrain, whichever is the higher C, D5 KM1 500 M horizontally 1 000 FT (300 M) vertically and with the surface in sight
F, G5 KM*Clear of cloud and with the surface in sight
  1. *flight visibilities reduced to not less than 1 500 M are permitted for flights operating
      • at speeds that, in the prevailing visibility, will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision; or
      • at or below 50 M above terrain for aerial work;
  2. flight visibilities reduced to not less than 750 M are permitted for:
      • helicopters, if manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid collision; and
      • balloons.
1.2.  Except when a clearance is obtained from an ATC, VFR flights shall not take-off or land at an aerodrome within a CTR, or enter the aerodrome traffic zone or traffic pattern:
  1. when the ceiling is less than 1 500 FT (450 M); or
  2. when ground visibility is less than 5 KM
1.3.  For VFR flights between sunset and sunrise:
  1. aircraft shall be equipped in accordance with ICAO Annex 6, Part II., Chapter 6 para 6.7.
  2. the operator shall establish operating weather minima with due regard to the conditions set for airspace types C and D in Table 1 . For airspace types F and G, the flight visibility is 5 KM for fixed wing aircraft and 3 KM for helicopters, and with the surface in continuous sight.
1.4.  In accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 (SERA) when no ATS unit exists at the arrival aerodrome or operating site within the Budapest FIR, an arrival report shall be made by any flight for which a flight plan has been submitted covering the entire flight or the remaining portion of a flight to the destination aerodrome. The arrival report shall be made, as soon as practicable after landing and by the quickest means available, to Budapest Flight Information Centre on the current frequency or via telephone:

Tel:(+361) 293-4102 or (+361) 293-4103

When communication facilities at the arrival aerodrome or operating site are inadequate and alternate arrangements for the handling of arrival reports on the ground are not available, a message comparable to an arrival report shall be transmitted by radiotelephony on the current frequency to the FIC immediately prior to landing.

Failure to comply with these provisions may cause serious disruption in the ATC and incur great expense in carrying out unnecessary search and rescue operations.

2.   Restrictions for VFR flights

2.1.  VFR flights shall not be conducted above FL 285 (8 700 M STD).
2.2.  En route VFR flights shall not be conducted above FL 195 (5 950 M STD).
2.3.  VFR flights between FL 195 (5 950 M STD) and FL 285 (8 700 M STD) may be conducted only:

Note 1: Application of ad-hoc segregated airspace shall be submitted to the Military Aviation Authority, not later than 10 working days prior to the date of operation (see page GEN 1.1-1, para 1.3)

Note 2: In case of VFR flights planned above FL 195 (5 950 M STD), not in an ad-hoc segregated airspace, prior to submission of the flight plan, but in any case not later than 30 minutes prior to EOBT, the pilot shall obtain prior permission from the duty supervisor of Budapest ATCC by phone on (+361) 291-6252.

Except in an emergency or when otherwise cleared by the appropriate ACC sector controller, VFR flights above FL195 shall be conducted within the geographical area and up to the flight altitude defined by Budapest ATCC.

In case of a VFR flight operating above FL 195 (5 950 M STD), if the radio contact with the appropriate ATC unit is lost, and re-establishment of the two-way radio communication with the appropriate or adjacent ATC unit is unsuccessful, the aircraft experiencing communication failure shall descend immediately and leave the controlled airspace, within the area defined in the ATC clearance. The aircraft shall than land at the first suitable aerodrome and report the landing as soon as possible to the appropriate ATC unit.

When a VFR flight operating above FL 195 (5 950 M STD) within controlled airspace is unable to operate in VMC due to a deterioration of meteorological conditions, it shall:

  1. request an amended clearance which shall permit it to continue the operation in VMC to the destination or to an alternate aerodrome, or to leave the controlled airspace, or
  2. when the clearance in a) above cannot be obtained, operate in VMC and report to the appropriate ATC unit the action it is taking for leaving the area concerned or for landing at the first suitable aerodrome.

The State boundaries of Hungary may be crossed over any significant points designated as Budapest FIR entry/exit points. The designed points are listed in part ENR 4.4.

2.4.  VFR operations below FL 100 (3 050 M STD) with a speed more than 250 KT (460 KM/h) IAS is prohibited.
2.5.  Except during take-off and landing, aerial work and State aircraft special task operations, VFR flights shall not be flown:
  1. over the congested areas of cities, towns or settlements or over an open-air assembly of persons at a height less than 1 000 FT (300 M) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 M from the aircraft;
  2. anywhere not specified in 5 a), at a height less than 500 FT (150 M) above the ground or water; except flights with special clearances, balloon and hang glider flights.
2.6.  VFR flights in level cruising flight, when operated above 3 500 FT (1 050 M) MSL, shall be conducted at a level appropriate to the track specified in the table of cruising levels (ENR 1.7 para 3.).
2.7.  In the controlled airspace of the Budapest FIR, operations on non-powered aircraft shall be subject to prior permission issued by the appropriate ATC unit concerned.
2.8.  All VFR flights with FPL and radio-equipped, shall maintain continuous listening watch on the appropriate radio frequency, and report their position, as necessary, to the ATS unit providing the FIS.
2.9.  VFR flights entering the Budapest FIR shall establish radio contact at least 10 minutes prior to the actual crossing of the FIR boundary, with the appropriate sector of Budapest ACC/FIC and shall report the following flight plan data:
  1. aircraft identification;
  2. type;
  3. VFR;
  4. destination;
  5. ETO FIR boundary;
  6. cruising level/altitude.

If radio contact, as required above, cannot be established, the ATS unit in charge of the area from which the aircraft is to enter the Budapest FIR shall be requested to relay the prescribed data to Budapest ACC/FIC and obtain entry clearance.

Without previous entry clearance a VFR flight shall not enter the Budapest FIR.

An exception to this is if the aircraft has experienced communication failure but had already reported the required FPL data to the ATS unit providing FIS in the area from which the aircraft is to enter the Budapest FIR.

All international VFR flights shall operate an SSR transponder in accordance with ENR 1.6 para 2.

The State boundaries of Hungary may be crossed by flying over any significant points designated as the ATS route network entry/exit points. The designated points are listed in part ENR 3. ATS routes are shown on Aeronautical Chart - ICAO 1:500 000.