What weather minimum is required for Class E airspace above 10,000 feet MSL?

In Class E airspace above 10,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), the visibility and cloud clearance requirements are crucial for ensuring safety during flight operations. The correct minimums for visibility are 5 statute miles, and for cloud clearance, the pilot must maintain a distance of 1,000 feet above, 1,000 feet below, and 1 mile horizontally from clouds.

This requirement is designed to provide pilots with adequate visual references, especially since flight operations at higher altitudes can lead to more prominent weather phenomena due to the ambient air currents and conditions present in the upper atmosphere. By regulating these distances and visibility, the regulations enhance safety and reduce the likelihood of mid-air collisions, as well as improve overall situational awareness during a flight.

The specified minimums are part of the FAA regulations to ensure that pilots maintain safe distances from clouds and avoid entering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) unintentionally, which can jeopardize flight safety.