Definition
The minimum required distance an aircraft must remain from clouds and the minimum flight visibility a pilot must have, as set by regulation for the airspace and altitude being flown under visual flight rules (VFR). These minimums vary by airspace class, altitude, and time of day, and are listed in 14 CFR Part 91.155.
Plain English
The rules that say how far you must stay away from clouds and how far you must be able to see when flying under visual flight rules. The exact numbers depend on where and when you are flying.
Context Anchor
Seen in visual flight planning, weather checks, training syllabi, and in-flight decisions about whether conditions are good enough to continue visually.
Derivation
Clearance comes from the idea of being clear of something, meaning not touching or crowding it. Visibility comes from Latin roots meaning “to see.” In aviation, the phrase combines both ideas: distance from clouds and distance you can see.
Why Pilots Care
Meeting these minima keeps the aircraft in visual meteorological conditions, preserving the pilot’s ability to see and avoid terrain, other aircraft, and changing weather.
Grounding Statement
Before takeoff and while flying, the practical check is: am I far enough from the clouds, and can I see far enough to keep flying safely?
Intuition Check
Cloud clearance does not mean permission from air traffic control; here it means physical distance from clouds. Visibility does not mean the sky looks generally clear; it means the distance you can actually see.
Example Sentence 1
Before the cross-country flight, the student reviewed the cloud clearance and visibility requirements for Class E airspace below 10,000 feet.
Example Sentence 2
The forecast showed improving conditions that would meet the cloud clearance and visibility minima for the return flight.