Flying Thru Congested Areas

VFR OTT (Over The Top) is allowed in Canada. It's just an extra rating that
can be added on to the PPL with 15 hours instrument time. It can only be
used if you are able to climb to altitude and descend at destination whilst
maintaining VFR. At altitude you have to maintain a certain distance from
the cloud layers. Flight following is not mandatory (but highly
recommended!).

Ross
"Martin Kosina" wrote in message
om...
So, would it be poor form to get an ifr clearance to get above whatever
cloud layer at your departure airport....fly VFR when you are on
top....then pickup an on-the-fly IFR again 100 miles or so before your
destinatation airport if you needed to descend back down through a cloud
layer? I am not saying this is a particularly good idea, or
particularly "polite"...I am just asking a question here.

No need to cancel that IFR when you get on top, just ask for
VFR-on-top ! ATC likes it (reduced separation req.), you get to stay
out of ice and go direct, all while maintaining your IFR status when
you need to descend at your destination. No begging for popups, just
advise you won't be able to maintain VFR and ask for a hard altitude.
One of the truly practical procedures out there !

BTW, does anyone know if VFR OT exists in Canada, I know VFR
over-the-top (i.e. just VFR above clouds) isn't permitted.

Martin

VFR OTT (Over The Top) is allowed in Canada. It's just an extra rating that
can be added on to the PPL with 15 hours instrument time. It can only be
used if you are able to climb to altitude and descend at destination whilst
maintaining VFR.

Thanks for the clarification, didn't know that ! (I remember reading
somewhere while back it wasn't allowed, it must have been a VFR-only
pilot). So how about VFR ON-Top (the IFR clearance), is that a valid
procedure in Canada ?