Definition
An ATC authorization for an IFR aircraft to operate in VFR conditions at any appropriate VFR altitude (as specified in 14 CFR and as restricted by ATC). A pilot receiving this authorization must comply with the VFR visibility and distance-from-cloud criteria, the minimum IFR altitudes specified in 14 CFR Part 91, and remains on an IFR flight plan, receiving radar advisories, traffic information, and clearances as required.
Plain English
Permission given by air traffic control to a pilot already on an instrument flight plan to fly at a VFR altitude of their choice while staying in clear visual conditions. The pilot stays under IFR rules in every other way, but picks their own altitude as long as they can see well enough to follow visual flight rules.
Context Anchor
A pilot may encounter this during an IFR flight when asking ATC for permission to operate visually above a cloud layer instead of being assigned one fixed IFR altitude.
Derivation
VFR stands for visual flight rules, meaning flight based on seeing outside. “On top” refers to being above cloud tops. Together, the phrase points to an IFR flight that is allowed to operate visually from above the clouds, under ATC authorization.
Why Pilots Care
Allows choice of smoother or more favorable altitudes above clouds without canceling the IFR flight plan, while still receiving ATC traffic separation services.
Intuition Check
Do not read “VFR-On-Top” as canceling IFR. The aircraft is still on an IFR flight plan; ATC has only authorized visual operation at a proper VFR altitude.
Example Sentence 1
After climbing through the cloud layer, the pilot requested VFR-On-Top, and the controller cleared the flight to maintain VFR-On-Top on the filed route.
Example Sentence 2
Requesting VFR-On-Top let the pilot select a smoother altitude while ATC maintained separation from other instrument traffic.