Definition
The section of the Federal Aviation Regulations that establishes basic VFR weather minimums, specifying the minimum flight visibility and distance from clouds required for flight under visual flight rules in each class of airspace and at various altitudes.
Plain English
This is the rule that tells pilots how much visibility they need and how far they must stay from clouds when flying by visual reference, depending on the type of airspace and how high they are flying.
Context Anchor
You will see this citation in discussions of traffic pattern operations, airport weather, flight visibility, and cloud clearance requirements.
Derivation
14 CFR means Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which covers aeronautics and space. Part 91 is the part that sets general operating and flight rules for civil aircraft. Section 91.155 is the specific paragraph within Part 91 that deals with basic VFR weather minimums. The numbering system lets pilots and regulators point to one exact rule out of thousands.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing these minimums prevents pilots from flying into marginal weather that could lead to loss of visual references or airspace conflicts.
Analogy
Think of the citation like an address. “14 CFR part 91” gets you to the right neighborhood of aviation rules, and “section 91.155” points to the exact house where the visual weather minimum rule lives.
Intuition Check
Do not read “part” as an aircraft part or “section” as a textbook section. Here, they are legal address words that point to a specific FAA rule.
Example Sentence 1
Before departing, the pilot checked 14 CFR part 91, section 91.155 to confirm the visibility and cloud clearance required for the airspace along the route.
Example Sentence 2
Before takeoff the instructor confirmed the ceiling met the requirements listed in 14 CFR part 91, section 91.155.