In the end this is all about ATC attitude and has very little to do with airspace classification. All controlled airspace in Sweden are class C and there are no problems whatsoever for VFR to get access, unless you try silly things like requesting a crossing of the ILS of Stockholm/Arlanda.
dublinpilot wrote:
But there is a blanket ban in Europe for VFR ABOVE FL195
The International Rules of the Air has the same ban (but above FL200) so it isn’t a specific EU-thing. And it isn’t actually a “ban” but you doi need special permission for VFR.
Peter wrote:
Does the UK have any Class C below FL195?
Peter wrote:
If not, isn’t there a blanket ban in Europe for VFR below FL195?
This “class C above FL 195” is standardisation BS combined with change resistance.
Europe imposed the requirement to make that airspace class C with the intent to guarantee that commercial IFR traffic gets separation from all other traffic. The most permissive airspace that achieves that is class C. But instead of saying “at least class c” and leaving it to each country to decide on B or A, they said that it must be class C. That is the regulatory BS part.
And then the UK made the bits they wanted operate like class A anyway. That is the change resistance part.
@ Peter do you have a reference for France banning VFR in class D above FL115? All the details I can find allow VFR in France up to FL 195 and I must admit that I have never had a problem flying VFR above FL115.
VFR in class C is rather an ICAO standard (annex2) in the first place, SERA makes it into EU/UK law but there are cases where SERA permits national discretion over certain requirements.
All these have to be listed in AIP, VFR is covered under ENR1.2 which now incorporate SERA, I looked quickly there is no mention of “VFR not permitted in class C”, actually section 1.5 ENR1.2 explicitly mentions VFR (while the ANO “works” for non-easa pilots/aircraft, I think it is just obsolete/outdated for airspace and rules of the air stuff…), in the other hand practically, there is zero chance of a VFR clearance to get into the few accessible pockets of class C airspace in the UK
" The UK is not at liberty to make such a restriction" – yet. 
alioth wrote:
It’s in the Air Navigation Order:
Then it must be another old UK rule that was made obsolete by SERA but not yet removed from the ANO. The UK is not at liberty to make such a restriction. At least not until March 29.
(1)(a) is superfluous as according to SERA flights in every airspace class above FL195 must be according to IFR unless you have a special permit for a VFR flight.
