[1] Each nation has specific and often different rules that govern when a pilot is permitted to fly VFR OTT.
Pilots are required to adhere to VFR minima when climbing and descending over the clouds.
Other operations (such as commercial, turbine powered, and fractional ownership) include special limitations.
The flight visibility at the cruising altitude of the aircraft must be at least 5 miles and the weather at the destination aerodrome must be forecast to have a sky condition of scattered cloud or better, a ground visibility of 5 miles or greater with no forecast of precipitation, fog, thunderstorm or blowing snow, and that these conditions must be forecast to exist for one hour before to two hours after the estimated time of arrival when a terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF) is available or from one hour before to three hours after the estimated time of arrival if a TAF is not available.
[citation needed] In Germany VFR OTT (Flüge nach Sichtflugregeln über Wolkendecken) is allowed and regulated in §32 LuftVO.