Memorizing VFR Minimums in 6 Steps: 3-152 BEG Method
Minimums for visual flight rules (VFR) airspace has always been tricky for me to remember. Popular opinion has Rod Machado’s technique at the top of the list, but it has triangles in a triangle, clip art, different text colors… I just can’t quite get it to work for me or imagine trying to draw it for someone.
I imagined this as a least-steps problem, and typically, they really benefit from knowing one thing: the best initial conditions.
So let’s start there. We will make them assumption that VFR minimums are 3 statute miles (sm) visibility, and 1,000 feet above clouds, 500 feet below clouds, and 2,000 feet besides clouds. We will simply update that assumption.
1. Start your airspace
Draw a descending bar chart with 3 columns. Label these airspaces “B-E-G”—like you are begging the examiner to pass you.
2. Complete Your Airspace
If you went left-to-right drawing the airspace, just fill it in going right-to-left with 2 more rectangles. Remember what 3-152 stands for: Vis, over, under, aside (it makes a Z pattern).
3. 2 C’s for Clear
Remember, these are updates to 3-152: Bravo is 3 miles visibility, clear of clouds. Keep going ↓ don’t worry.
4. Specify day-time
“d1” stands for “daytime – 1 mile vis”. Daytime also applies to the C in the class G column.
5. 5-111 for E & G
Almost there, trust the process. 5-111 is 5 miles vis and 1,000 feet, 1,000 feet, 1 statue mile (not feet) over, under, aside, respectively.
6. Label Your Altitudes
Remember 1,200 AGL on bottom because it’s “almost ground level”.
That’s it. Of course, the top of this stops at class A airspace (i.e. it goes up to, but doesn’t include the 18,000 feet MSL). Happy flying.
