Low Visibility Operations

Training Course

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

CAT 1 CAT 2 CAT 3 LVTO LV TAXI

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.1 Characteristics of fog

Fog is a cloud that is in contact with the
ground;
o Mist = visibility < 2km
o Fog = visibility < 1km
Water vapour condenses into tiny liquid water
droplets - Relative humidity 100%
Thickness of fog is determined by altitude of
the inversion boundary.

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 1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.1 Types of fog:

Radiation fog;

Advection fog;

Steam fog, also called evaporation fog;

Precipitation fog (or frontal fog);

Freezing fog.

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.2 CAT II/III Definitions

250 FT
CAT I
200 FT

150 FT
CAT II
100 FT
CAT III a
CAT III b 50 FT
CAT III c

800 m 700 m 600 m 500 m 400 m 300 m 200 m 100 m 0m

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.3 ICAO requirements (Annex 6):

Category II and Category III instrument approach and
landing operations shall not be authorized unless RVR
information is provided;
A take-off alternate aerodrome shall be located within
the following distance from the aerodrome of
departure:
o Less than one hour at the single-engine cruise
speed for two-engine aeroplanes;
o Less than two hours at the one-engine inoperative
cruise speed for three or four-engine aeroplane.
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 1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.3 ICAO requirements (Annex 6):

IFR flight shall not be commenced unless at
destination or at least at one alternate (if required)
weather conditions are at or above the aerodrome
operating minima;
An instrument approach shall not be continued beyond
the outer marker unless the reported visibility or
controlling RVR is above the specified minimum;
If, after passing the outer marker the reported visibility
or controlling RVR falls below the specified minimum,
the approach may be continued to DA/H or MDA/H.

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.3 ICAO requirements (Annex 6):

RVR below published minima GO-AROUND

GO-AROUND

DH

OM

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.4 CAT II/III Definitions according ICAO, FAA, JAA

ICAO FAA JAA
DH 100ft DH < 200ft 100ft DH < 200ft 100ft DH < 200ft
CAT II 350m RVR 350m RVR < 800m 350m RVR
RVR 1200ft RVR 1200ft RVR < 2400ft 1000ft RVR

DH No DH or DH < 100ft No DH or DH < 100ft DH < 100ft

CAT III A 200m RVR 200m RVR 200m RVR
RVR 700ft RVR 700ft RVR 700ft RVR

DH No DH or DH < 50ft No DH or DH < 50ft No DH or DH < 50ft

CAT III B 50m RVR < 200m 50m RVR < 200m 50m RVR < 200m
RVR 150ft RVR < 700ft 150ft RVR < 700ft 150ft RVR < 700ft

DH No DH No DH No Authorization
CAT III C
RVR No RVR limitation No RVR limitation No Authorization

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 1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.5 General operating rules

Aeroplane certificated for operations with decision
heights below 200 ft, and equipped in accordance with
requirements accepted by the Authority;
Equipped with suitable system for recording approach
and/or automatic landing success and failure;
Operations are approved by the Authority;
The flight crew consists of at least 2 pilots; and
Decision Height determined by a radio altimeter.

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.6 Decision Height Definition

Decision Height is the wheel height above the runway
elevation by which a go-around must be initiated
unless adequate visual reference* has been
established and the aircraft position and approach
path have been assessed as satisfactory to continue
the approach and landing in safety;
Visual reference at DH = not less than 3 light segment
of the centre line of:
o The approach lights;
o The runway centreline;
o Touchdown zone lights or runway edge lights.
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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.7 Alert Height Concept

Alert height is a height defined for CAT III operations

with a fail-operational landing system:
o Above AH, a go-around must be initiated if a
failure affects the fail-operational landing system;
o Below AH, the approach will be continued (except
if AUTOLAND warning is triggered).

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 1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.8 Runway Visual Range

RVR is the range over which a pilot of an aircraft on the

centreline of the runway can see the runway surface
markings or the lights delineating the runway or
identifying its centreline;

RVR is not the Slant Visual Range which is the range

over which a pilot of an aircraft in the final stages of
approach or landing can see the markings or the lights
as described in RVR definition.

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.8 Runway Visual Range (Cont.)

RVR measurements are provided by calibrated

transmissometers located:

At the touchdown zone (TDZ);

At the mid-runway portion (MID); and
At the rollout portion or stop-end.
For CAT II operations TDZ measurement is required and
for CAT III, TDZ and MID measurements are mandatory.

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.9 Fail-Passive automatic landing system

An automatic landing system is fail-passive if, in the
event of a failure, there is no significant out-of-trim
condition or deviation of flight path or attitude but the
landing is not completed automatically;
For a fail-passive automatic landing system, the pilot
assumes control of the aircraft after a failure.

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 1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.10 Fail-Operational automatic landing system

An automatic landing system is fail-operative if, in the
event of a failure below alert height, the approach, the
flare and landing can be completed by the remaining
part of the automatic system;
In the event of failure, the automatic landing system
will operate as a fail-passive system.

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1. GENERAL CONCEPT

1.11 Concept of minima

The term minima refer to different concepts:

Airfield operating minima;

Operators minima;

Flight crew minima; and

Aircraft minima.
For all CAT II / CAT III operations, these minima consist of
a DH and an RVR.
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2. APPROVAL PROCESS

2.1 Principle of approval process

Aircraft type

Airfield
CAT II/III
Regulation

Flight Crew
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 2. APPROVAL PROCESS

2.1 Principle of approval process (Cont.)

The Operator must submit a file to his national
authority including:
Extracts from the Airplane Flight Manual;
A description of the airfield equipment;
A proposal for airfield operating minima;
A syllabus for ground, flight/simulator training for
flight crew;
A description of the operational procedures;
A description of the maintenance program.
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3. AERODROME OPERATING MINIMA

3.1. Determination of the DH for Category II

An operator must ensure that the decision height for a
Category II operation is not lower than:
1. The minimum decision height specified in the AFM;
2. The minimum decision height to which the precision
approach aid can be used solely by reference to
instruments;
3. The OCH for the category of aeroplane;
4. The decision height to which the flight crew is
authorized to operate;
5. 100ft (30m).

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3. AERODROME OPERATING MINIMA

3.1. Determination of RVR for Category II

ICAO FAA JAA

DH RVR DH RVR RVR
350 m 1200 ft
100 ft 100 - 120 ft 350 m
(1200 ft) (350 m)
1200 ft
121 - 140 ft 400 m
(350 m)
500 m 1600 ft
150 ft 141 - 180 ft 450 m
(1600 ft) (500 m)
1800 ft
181 - 199 ft 450 m
(550 m)

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 4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Operators must develop procedures and operational

instructions to be used by flight crews;
These procedures and instructions must be published in
the Operations Manual;
They must be compatible with the limitations and
mandatory procedures contained in the Approved Flight
Manual.

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4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Items to be covered:
Effect on minima caused by changes in the status of
ground installations and airborne equipment;
Procedures to be followed in the event of failure, warning
and other abnormal situations;
Action which may be necessary arising from a
deterioration of the visual reference.

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4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Flight preparation:
Review NOTAMS:
o Runway and approach lighting;
o Radio navaid availability;
o RVR equipment availability, etc.
Aircraft status;
Crew qualification and currency;
Weather information;
Fuel planning.

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 4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Approach preparation:
Aircraft status (ECAM status or AUTOLAND warning
light);
Weather;
Approach ban before and after OM or equivalent DME
distance;
ATC calls: clearance to carry out a CAT II or CAT III
approach must be requested from ATC;
Seat position;
Use of landing lights.

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4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Approach procedures:
Task sharing for CM1 and CM2;
Visual reference:
o At DH visual reference should be adequate to
monitor the continued approach and landing.
Loss of visual reference:
o Before touchdown
o After touch down.

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4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Approach preparation (Cont.):

CAT II or CAT III briefing:
o Destination and alternate weather;
o Airfield and runway operational status;
o Aircraft system status and capacity;
o Brief review of task sharing;
o Review of approach procedure;
o Review applicable minima, go-around procedure,
ATC calls;
o Brief review of procedure in case of malfunction
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 4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Approach procedures:
Task sharing
o CM1:
- Approaching DH
- At or before DH
o CM2:
- At DH
o If decision to go-around.

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4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Approach procedures (Cont.):

Flight parameters deviation calls

PARAMETERS IF DEVIATION EXCEEDS CALL REQUIRED

+10KT
IAS SPEED
- 5 KT
RATE OF
- 1000 ft/min SINKRATE
DESCENT

PITCH ATTITUDE 10 UP/-2.5 PITCH

BANK ANGLE 7 BANK

LOCALIZER DOT(PFD) LOCALIZER

GLIDE SLOP 1 DOT(PFD) GLIDE SLOP

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4. FLIGHT CREW PROCEDURES

Failures and associated actions:

CONTINUE the approached to the planned minima;

REVERT to higher minima and proceed to a new DH

(above 1000 ft);

GO-AROUND and reassess the capability.

NOTA: Below 1000 ft the occurrence of any failure

implies a go-around.

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 5. FLIGHT CREW TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION

Training programme:

Ground training programme;

Flight Simulator training.

The flight crew qualification is specific to the

operation and the aeroplane type.

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5. FLIGHT CREW TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION

Training programme (Cont.):

Conversion training requirements to conduct CAT II
and III operations;
Line flying under supervision: where CAT II manual
landings are required, a minimum of 3 such landings
from autopilot disconnect must be carried out;
Type and command experience:
o 50 hours as PIC on type
o Until 100 hours as PIC, 100m must be added to
applicable minimum (unless previously qualified);
Flight crew qualification: completion of a check;
Recurrent training and checking.
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6. AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENTS

Introduction:
An operator cannot perform CAT II or CAT III approach
unless:
A/C type approved for this type of operation;
The operator has received from his national
Authorities the operational approval to perform these
types of operations;
The aircraft capability to perform these operations
(refer to the list of required equipment listed in AFM).

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 6. AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENTS

Aircraft equipment:
The equipment listed in the AFM is required to be
operative;
If one of these equipment or system is listed in the
MEL with associated dispatch conditions, the MEL
must clearly indicate that CAT II or CAT III operations
are not authorised.

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

Introduction:
An operator shall not use an airfield for CAT II or CAT III
operations unless it is approved for such operations by the
state in which the airfield is located;
An operator shall verify that Low Visibility Procedures
(LVP) have been established, and will be enforced, at
those aerodromes where low visibility operations are to be
conducted.

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

Introduction (Cont.):
Airfield requirement addresses following subjects:
o Runway characteristics,
o Visual aids,
o Non-Visual aids (ILS),
o RVR measurements,
o Obstacle clearance area,
o ATC procedure,
o Maintenance procedure.

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 7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

Runway characteristics:
Runway length is not an operational limitation;
Runway width 45m;
Runway slope 0.8% on 1st and last quarter of the
runway;
No objects on runway strips within 60m of the
centreline
Taxi-holding position is established at each
intersection of a taxiway and the runway (90m from
centreline of the runway.

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

Visual aids-runway marks:

Runway centreline marks must have a width not less than
0.90m;
Touchdown zone marks painted in the touchdown zone;
Taxiway marks (not specific for CAT II or CAT III
operations);
Taxi-holding position markings.
CAT 2 CAT 2 CAT 2 CAT 2

TWY < 60M TWY > 60M

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS
Taxi-holding position marks

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 7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

Visual aids-runway lights:

Runway edge lights;
Threshold lights;
Runway end lights;
Runway centreline lights;
Touchdown zone lights;
Taxiway edge lights;
Taxiway centreline lights;
Stop bars.

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS
Runway end lights

18m
60m max
30m or 60m

15m or 30m

Centreline lights Runway edge lights

Touchdown zone lights

Threshold lights

Side row barrette

300m
Centreline barrette

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS
Effect on landing minima of failed or downgraded
equipment:
Failed or EFFECT ON LANDING MINIMA
downgraded
equipment CAT II CAT I NON PRECISION

Approach lights Not Allowed Minima as for nil facilities

Whole RWY light Day - minima as for nil facilities
system
Not Allowed
Night - not allowed
Edge lights Day only ; Night - not allowed
Day - RVR 300m
Centre line Night - 550m
No effect

Touchdown Day - RVR 300m

Night - 550m
No effect
Zone lights
Taxiway light No effect (except delays due to reduced movement rate)
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 7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

Obstacle clearance area: Obstacle clearance

height (OCH)

The lowest height above the aerodrome elevation used

in establishing compliance with appropriate obstacle
clearance criteria.
The minimum DH for CAT II is always equal to or
higher than any OCH mentioned in the aerodrome
chart.

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

Obstacle clearance area: Obstacle Free Zone

(OFZ):

The airspace above the inner approach surface and

inner transitional surfaces, which is not penetrated by
any fixed obstacle other than a low-mass and frangibly
mounted and required for air transportation purposes.

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

ILS facility:
CAT II and CAT III approaches are based on
ILS facilities;
3 categories of ILS providing guidance down
to:
o 60m (200ft) for CAT I
o 15m (50ft) for CAT II
o Runway surface for CAT III.

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 7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

ILS Protection:
2 kinds of protection area:
o Critical area;
o Sensitive area.

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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

RVR Measurements:

Provided by a system of calibrated

transmissometers providing the value of
opaqueness of the atmosphere on a reference
distance;

3 parts of the runway:

o The touch-down zone (TDZ);
o The mid runway portion (MID);
o The roll-out portion or stop-end.
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7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

RVR Measurements: 2 types of transmissometers:

Reference length
Photocell

Light source
Transmitter Receiver

Transmitter and receiver

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 7. AIRFIELD REQUIREMENTS

RVR Measurements: 2 types of transmissometers:

Light source
Reference length/2
Retro reflector

Transmitter and Receiver

Photocell
Reflective transmissometer

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8. LOW VISIBILITY TAKE-OFF (LVTO)

Take-off with RVR < 400m is considered as

LVTO;

Take-off minima determined by airport

installation (runway light system, RVR
measurement system, );

LVTO with 400m < RVR < 150m is a function

of aircraft category and runway equipment.

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8. LOW VISIBILITY TAKE-OFF (LVTO)

LVTO minima

Ground facilities RVR

NIL (Day only) 500m

Runway edge lightning and/or

centreline marking (both required 250m
for night operations)
Runway edge and centreline
200m
lightning
Runway edge and centreline
lightning and multiple RVR 150m
information

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 Thank you for
your ATTENTION

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