M-20 B/C Ranger
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Weather; Human Factors; Procedure
A Mooney noting low clouds and not wanting to violate VFR cloud clearance; requested a SVFR clearance out of the Class C Airspace. Ground Control 2 gave the aircraft a SVFR clearance. Local Control 2 requested a SVFR release from Local Control 1 who held the release pending airspace availability. A few minutes later; the FLM in the south Tower told Local Control 2 to make the Mooney fly VFR. So the pilot did depart VFR and came much closer than the VFR required 500 FT separation from the low clouds in the area. The FLM should be instructed on cloud clearance requirements between VFR flight and SVFR flight.
Tower Controller voiced concern regarding Supervisory instructions not to issue a SFVR clearance when the airport was above VFR minima even though cloud clearance was apparently a factor.