Visibility
Last updated: April 20, 2026 · Maintained by Aviatr Editorial Team
What is Visibility?
Visibility is the greatest horizontal distance at which prominent objects can be seen and identified, reported in meters (Europe) or statute miles (US METAR). It combines with ceiling to determine whether an airport is VFR, Marginal VFR, IFR, or Low IFR, setting the legal minimums for the flight.
How is Visibility used?
Every METAR reports prevailing visibility in the group immediately after the wind — for example, '9000' means 9,000 meters in European reports, while '10SM' means 10 statute miles in US format. European VFR visibility minimums range from 1,500 meters in controlled airspace with certain exceptions up to 8,000 meters above flight level 100. Pilots cross-reference the METAR visibility against the legal minimum for their flight rules and aircraft category before every departure. Low visibility procedures at major airports activate when runway visual range drops below 550 meters, and cross-country pilots watch the visibility trend across successive METARs to spot deteriorating weather before it becomes critical. Flight schools teach students to read RVR and prevailing visibility groups as part of the EASA weather module, and decoding visibility groups is a staple of the PPL theoretical exam. Many commercial operators set additional company minimums above the regulatory figure, adding a buffer against rapid visibility drops during approach.