What is the minimum flight surface visibility for a student pilot during daylight hours?

The minimum flight surface visibility required for a student pilot during daylight hours is indeed 3 miles. This standard is set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure that pilots, especially those who are still training, have adequate visual reference during flight.

Having a visibility of 3 miles allows student pilots to maintain good situational awareness and adequately see surrounding aircraft, as well as landmarks and other ground features. This is crucial for safe navigation and operation, especially in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions where the pilot relies on visual references rather than instruments alone.

Less visibility than this could compromise safety, making it difficult for a student pilot to spot potential hazards or traffic in the airspace. Thus, the 3-mile visibility requirement is an important regulation to help ensure that student pilots can safely and effectively conduct their training flights.