A VFR on top clearance describes operating at VFR altitudes while remaining on which flight plan?

• A. IFR flight plan
• B. VFR flight plan
• C. No plan
• D. Special clearance required

Answer: (A)

VFR on top means you’re flying visually and keeping clear of clouds, but you’re doing it under an IFR clearance. In this setup, ATC treats you as an IFR flight, so you stay on an IFR flight plan even though you’re operating at VFR altitudes. The reason this is the best description is that the clearance and separation you rely on come from the IFR system, not from flying under a VFR plan alone. You maintain VFR weather minimums and cloud separations, but the routing, altitude assignment, and separation from other traffic come from the IFR clearance. It wouldn’t be correct to say you’re on a VFR flight plan or no plan, and special clearance isn’t required—VFR on top explicitly involves remaining on an IFR flight plan.