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VFR in Finland

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Weather minima

The minimum weather conditions where an aircraft can fly under Visual Flight Rules is described in the table below.

Airspace class Minimum visibility Minimum cloud ceiling
D (Control Zone) 5 km BKN or OVC 1000 ft
For Special VFR, the minima may be reduced to:
D (Control Zone) 1500 m BKN or OVC 600 ft
  • All Control Zones in Finland are D airspace
  • Check ilmailusaa.fi for weather information

Pilots may also fly in IMC conditions. It is recommended to add RMK/SIMULATED VMC to the flight plan.

Charts

  • eAIP Finland
    • From the left menu, navigate to AD 2 for controlled aerodromes
    • VAC charts are the most useful ones for VFR flying
  • lentopaikat.fi
    • Information about uncontrolled aerodromes
  • flyk.com or Fintraffic Sky
    • Interactive maps with airspace and weather information
  • Local TRA Charts
    • Local Training Areas around airports (in CTR and TMA)

Charts provide the pilots essential information for the flight such as:

  • Traffic circuit direction and altitude
  • Visual Reporting Points
  • Airspace structure, vertical limits, holding areas
  • landmarks for visual navigation
  • Apron locations, ground layout

Flight Plan

Origin and Destination

Use the ICAO four-letter code e.g. EFOU in the departure and destination fields. If the aerodrome does not have a code, use ZZZZ and specify the aerodrome location in the REMARK field e.g. DEP/KORVATUNTURI or DEST/601542N0193819E.

Route Field

The entries below can be used in the Flight Plan Route field

ROUTE Field Explanation
OULU CTR Flight staying within the Control Zone
LOIMAA FORSSA Aerodrome or destination location in plain language
TC Traffic Circuit. You may specify the type and amount of landings in the REMARK field, e.g. RMK/2TGL 1SL 1FS
TA Training Area. If you request a certain area, you may insert the name to the REMARK field e.g. RMK/TRAJY04. Check V-LARA Airspace Reservation if you wish to reserve an airspace block.
LINTU Visual Reporting Points used when entering or exiting the Control Zone. Pilots should plan the flights via the VRP's as they are establihsed for noise abatement.

Remarks Field

The following entries can be used in the Flight Plan Remarks field (RMK/...)

RMK/ Explanation
FS Full Stop Landing
LA Low Approach
TGL Touch and Go Landing
SL Spot Landing
PFL Practiced Forced Landing
PFLR Practiced Forced Landing back to Runway
VFR ON TOP For a VFR flight to be operated on top of clouds
DEP EFOU Activating VFR flight plan shall be done by radio to the ATS unit whose area of responsibility the aerodrome is located
ARR EFTP Closing VFR flight plan shall be done by radio to the ATS unit whose area of responsibility the aerodrome is located
DEP EFIN Flight plan activation or closure is intended to be given to the EFIN ACC by radio
DEP ARR EFRO Flight plan activation and closure is intended to Rovaniemi ATS by radio
FPL CLOSING KUKSA EFRO Flight plan closing at the boundary of controlled airspace

Local Traffic Circuit

Local Traffic Circuit is a standardised flight path in the immediate vicinity of an aerodrome used mainly by General Aviation VFR flights.

Every controlled aerodrome has its own Visual Approach Chart (VAC) which includes essential information for flights in the Control Zone. Before your flight, you need to have a general understanding of the traffic circuit legs illustrated below:

traffic_circuit.png

Always use left turns unless otherwise instructed by ATC.

Pilots shall always report when on downwind, e.g. O-ME, DOWNWIND RUNWAY 30, TOUCH AND GO. If no clearance has been received, pilots shall also report when established on the final leg.

Long final is when the aircraft is over 4 miles away from the runway threshold. The ON LONG FINAL call is made on 8 miles final.

Flight Plan Example

(FPL-OHCME-VG
-C172/L-FOV/C
-EFOU0730
-N0100A013 TC
-EFOU0100
-DOF/250516 RMK/2TGL 1SL 1FS)
  • In the example above, the pilot will perform 2 touch-and-go landings, 1 spot-landing and 1 full-stop-landing.

Phraseology Example

👨🏻‍✈️ OULU TOWER, OH-CME

OULUN TORNI, OH-CME

🎧 O-ME, OULU TOWER

O-ME, OULUN TORNI

👨🏻‍✈️ O-ME, CESSNA 172, APRON 3, INFORMATION M, QNH 1011, REQUEST TAXI

O-ME, CESSNA 172, ASEMATASOLLA 3, TIEDOTUS M, QNH 1011, PYYDÄN RULLATA

🎧 O-ME, TAXI TO HOLDING POINT RUNWAY 30, CLEARED TRAFFIC CIRCUIT, 1300 FEET OR BELOW, SQUAWK 2611

O-ME, RULLAA ODOTUSPAIKALLE KIITOTIE 30, SELVÄ LASKUKIERROKSEEN, 1300 JALKAA TAI ALAPUOLELLA, KOODAA 2611

👨🏻‍✈️ TAXI TO HOLDING POINT RUNWAY 30, CLEARED TRAFFIC CIRCUIT, 1300 FEET OR BELOW, SQUAWK 2611, O-ME

RULLAAN ODOTUSPAIKALLE KIITOTIE 30, SELVÄ LASKUKIERROKSEEN, 1300 JALKAA TAI ALAPUOLELLA, KOODAAN 2611, O-ME

- - - when ready for departure - - -
🎧 O-ME, LINEUP RUNWAY 30

O-ME, SIIRRY KIITOTIELLE 30

👨🏻‍✈️ LINING UP RUNWAY 30, O-ME

SIIRRYN KIITOTIELLE 30, O-ME

🎧 O-ME, WIND CALM, RUNWAY 30 CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF, RIGHT TURN

O-ME, TUULI TYYNTÄ, KIITOTIE 30 SELVÄ LENTOONLÄHTÖÖN, OIKEA KAARTO

👨🏻‍✈️ CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF RUNWAY 30, RIGHT TURN, O-ME

SELVÄ LENTOONLÄHTÖÖN KIITOTIE 30, OIKEA KAARTO, O-ME

- - - on traffic circuit - - -
👨🏻‍✈️ O-ME, RIGHT DOWNWIND RUNWAY 30, TOUCH AND GO

O-ME, OIKEA MYÖTÄTUULI KIITOTIE 30, LÄPILASKU

🎧 O-ME, WIND VARIABLE 2 KNOTS, RUNWAY 30 CLEARED FOR TOUCH AND GO, LEFT TURN

O-ME, TUULI VAIHTELEE 2 SOLMUA, KIITOTIE 30 SELVÄ LÄPILASKUUN, VASEN KAARTO

👨🏻‍✈️ CLEARED FOR TOUCH AND GO RUNWAY 30, LEFT TURN, O-ME

SELVÄ LÄPILASKUUN KIITOTIE 30, VASEN KAARTO, O-ME

Leaving Control Zone

Flight Plan Example

(FPL-OHCME-VG
-C172/L-FOV/C
-EFOU0730
-N0100A013 TC UNILO
-EFAH0100
-DOF/250516 RMK/EFOU 2TGL)
  • In the example above, the pilot will perform 2 touch-and-go landings in Oulu which after the aircraft will leave the control zone via Unilo towards the destination EFAH (Ahmosuo).

The phraseology below is used when leaving the Control Zone to uncontrolled airspace. If leaving towards the Terminal Area, please check the ATC documentation: VFR Clearances.

Phraseology Example

👨🏻‍✈️ O-ME, DOWNWIND RUNWAY 30, TOUCH AND GO, WHICH AFTER REQUESTING TO LEAVE CONTROL ZONE VIA UNILO

O-ME, MYÖTÄTUULI KIITOTIE 30, LÄPILASKU JONKA JÄLKEEN PYYDÄN JÄTTÄÄ LÄHIALUEEN UNILON KAUTTA

🎧 O-ME, AFTER TOUCH AND GO LEAVE CONTROL ZONE VIA UNILO, WIND CALM, RUNWAY 30 CLEARED TOUCH AND GO, RIGHT TURN

O-ME, LÄPILASKUN JÄLKEEN JÄTÄ LÄHIALUE UNILON KAUTTA, TUULI TYYNTÄ, KIITOTIE 30 SELVÄ LÄPILASKUUN, OIKEA KAARTO

👨🏻‍✈️ AFTER TOUCH AND GO, LEAVE CONTROL ZONE VIA UNILO, CLEARED FOR TOUCH AND GO RUNWAY 30, RIGHT TURN, O-ME

LÄPILASKUN JÄLKEEN JÄTÄN LÄHIALUEEN UNILON KAUTTA, SELVÄ LÄPILASKUUN KIITOTIE 30, OIKEA KAARTO, O-ME

- - - when passing the Visual Reporting Point - - -
👨🏻‍✈️ O-ME, UNILO OUTBOUND

O-ME, UNILO ULOS

🎧 O-ME

O-ME

You may now change the frequency. Please bare in mind altitude limits of the Terminal Area which is located above the uncontrolled airspace. The limits can be easily checked from flyk.fi map.

ATC may also give clearance to LEAVE CONTROL ZONE DIRECT EN-ROUTE or LEAVE CONTROL ZONE TOWARDS AHMOSUO. In that case you may fly direct towards your destination. Remember to report O-ME, CONTROL ZONE BOUNDARY OUTBOUND when leaving the Control Zone.

Entering Control Zone

Flight Plan Example

(FPL-OHCME-VG
-C172/L-FOV/C
-EFAH0730
-N0100A013 UNILO TC
-EFOU0020
-DOF/250516 RMK/1SL)
  • In the example above, the pilot will enter the control zone via Unilo and perform 1 spot-landing and 1 full-stop-landing
  • Arriving VFR aircraft is always given clearance to a part of the traffic circuit if the traffic situation permits
  • Contact Tower about 5 minutes before entering the Control Zone

Phraseology Example

👨🏻‍✈️ OULU TOWER, OH-CME

OULUN TORNI, OH-CME

🎧 O-ME, OULU TOWER

O-ME, OULUN TORNI

👨🏻‍✈️ O-ME, DEPARTED FROM AHMOSUO, 1000 FEET, 5 MINUTES FROM UNILO, INFORMATION M

O-ME, LÄHTÖ AHMOSUOLTA, 1000 JALKAA, ARVIO UNILOON 5 MINUUTTIA, TIEDOTUS M

🎧 O-ME, VIA UNILO JOIN RIGHT BASE LEG RUNWAY 30, 1300 FEET OR BELOW, QNH 1011

O-ME, UNILON KAUTTA LIITY OIKEAAN MYÖTÄTUULEEN KIITOTIE 30, 1300 JALKAA TAI ALAPUOLELLA, QNH 1011

👨🏻‍✈️ VIA UNILO JOIN RIGHT BASE LEG RUNWAY 30, 1300 FEET OR BELOW, QNH 1011, O-ME

UNILON KAUTTA LIITYN OIKEALLE PERUSOSALLE KIITOTIE 30, 1300 JALKAA TAI ALAPUOLELLA, QNH 1011, O-ME

- - - on traffic circuit - - -
🎧 O-ME, COMMENCE SPOT LANDING

O-ME, SUORITA MAALIINLASKU

👨🏻‍✈️ COMMENCING SPOT LANDING, O-ME

SUORITAN MAALIINLASKUN, O-ME

- - - spot landing requires separate landing clearance - - -
🎧 O-ME, WIND CALM, RUNWAY 30 CLEARED TO LAND

O-ME, TUULI TYYNTÄ, KIITOTIE 30 SELVÄ LASKUUN

👨🏻‍✈️ CLEARED TO LAND RUNWAY 30, O-ME

SELVÄ LASKUUN KIITOTIE 30, O-ME

Traffic Information

As the control zone is D airspace, the pilot is responsible for maintaining separation to other IFR and VFR aircraft. In order to maintain separation, ATC will give you information about essential traffic that may affect your flight

Below are listed a few common phrases used by ATC

🎧 O-ME, NUMBER 2, FOLLOW DIAMOND 42 ON BASE LEG

O-ME, VUORO 2, SEURAA DIAMOND 42 PERUSOSALLA

🎧 O-ME, TRAFFIC ATR 72 DEPARTING RUNWAY 12 STRAIGHT AHEAD TO 4 MILES WHICH AFTER TURNING TOWARDS HELSINKI

O-ME, LIIKENTEESI ATR 72 LÄHDÖSSÄ KIITOTIELTÄ 12 SUORAAN NELJÄÄN MAILIIN JONKA JÄLKEEN KAARTAA KOHTI HELSINKIÄ

🎧 O-ME, TRAFFIC AIRBUS 320 ON 2 MILES FINAL, CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE

O-ME, LIIKENTEESI AIRBUS 320 KAHDEN MAILIN LOPPUOSALLA, VARO JÄTTÖPYÖRRETTÄ

🎧 O-ME, TRAFFIC CESSNA 152, 11 O'CLOCK 5 MILES, OPPOSITE DIRECTION

O-ME, LIIKENTEESI CESSNA 152, KELLO 11:STA 5 MAILIA, VASTAAN TULEVAA

Delaying Traffic

If there

Flights to TMA

Flight Plan Example

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Phraseology Example

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