All Weather Ops

Chapter 5

Classification of Aeroplanes
Aeroplane Category

Vat = Speed at Threshold

Vat (kt)

Less than 91 kt

91 - 120

121 - 140

141 - 165

166 - 210

Vat = Vso x 1.3 (stalling speed landing configuration)

or
Vat = VS1g x 1.23 (1g stall speed)

Take Of
A Low Visibility Take-of (LVTO) is a take-of where the RVR is less than 400m.
An operator shall not conduct low visibility take-ofs in less than 150m RVR (Category A, B & C
aeroplanes) or 200m (Category D) unless approved by the Authority.
Take off RVR / Visibility
Facilities
Nil (day only)

RVR/Visibility
500m

Runway edge lighting and/or centre line marking 250m (300m for Category D aeroplanes)
Runway edge and centre line lighting

200m (250m for Category D aeroplanes)

Runway edge and centre line lighting and

multiple RVR information

150m (200m for Category D aeroplanes)

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Approach & Landing

Categorised into Non-precision Approaches and Precision Approaches (Category I, II and III).

Non-precision Approach
Instrument approach with only lateral guidance.
Lowest MDH for each System
Facility

Lowest MDH

Localiser with or without DME

250 ft

VOR & DME

250 ft

SRA terminating at 0.5NM

250 ft

SRA terminating at 1NM

300 ft

VOR

300 ft

NDB/DME

300 ft

RNAV/LNAV

300 ft

VDF (QDM and QGH)

350 ft

SRA terminating at 2NM

350 ft

NDB

350 ft

SRA
Localiser
VOR

Surveillance Radar Approach

Aligns you with centre of runway
VHF. Select appropriate frequency and bearing output fed to the display with which
you line up.
DME
Line of sight distance.
MDH
Minimum Descent Height/(Altitude). Specified height in a non-precision or circling
approach below which descent may not be made without the required visual
reference. Operators must ensure that their MDH for a non-precision approach is
not lower than either the Obstacle Clearance Height (OCH) for their category of
aeroplane, or the system minima outlined above.
Pilot shouldnt continue approach below MDH as listed above unless at least one of the following
are distinctly visible:

Elements of the Approach Light System

The threshold
The threshold markings
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The threshold identification lights
The visual glide slope indicator
The touchdown zone of touchdown zone markings (piano keys)
The touchdown zone lights
Runway edge lights
Or visual references as accepted by the authority.

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Precision Approaches
Broken down into Category I, Category II and Category III precision approaches, with Category III
being the most accurate, automated and advanced.

Category I - RVR 550m, DH 200ft.

This is a precision instrument approach & landing using ILS, MLS, GLS, or PAR.
RVR must be no less than 550m, unless accepted by Authority.
Pilot cannot continue past decision height unless he can see at least one of the visual references
outlined earlier. Decision height (DH) should be no lower than:

The minimum decision height specified in the AFM, if stated.

The minimum height at which the precision approach aid can be used without
the required visual reference.

The OCH/OCL for the category of aeroplane

or, 200 feet.
As mentioned, minimum RVR for cat I approach is 550m. However for single pilot operations the
minimum RVR is 800m unless autopilot coupled with ILS or MLS is available, in which case the
RVR is 550m.

Category II - RVR 300m, DH 100ft.

This is a precision instrument approach & landing using ILS or MLS with:

Decision height below 200ft but not lower than 100ft, and
RVR of not less than 300m.
Operator must ensure that DH for Cat II approach is not lower than:

The minimum decision height specified in the AFM, if stated.

The minimum decision height to which the precision approach aid can be used
with the required visual reference.

The OCH/OCL for the category of aeroplane.

The decision height to which the flight crew are authorised to operate.
or, 100 feet.

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Pilot cannot continue past decision height unless he can see a segment of at least 3 consecutive
lights; centre line of approach lights, or touchdown lights, or runway centre line lights, or runway
edge lights.

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Category III - RVR 200m to 75m, DH 100ft to 50ft,

Category III A

A precision instrument approach and landing using ILS or MLS with decision
height lower than 100ft and RVR not less than 200m.

Category III B

A precision instrument approach and landing using ILS or MLS with decision
height not lower than 50ft, or no decision height, and RVR lower than
200m but not lower than 75m.

Category III C

A precision instrument approach and landing using ILS or MLS with no

decision height and no RVR requirements.

Note: If DH and RVR do not fall within the same category, the RVR determines category.
If decision height is being used (ie. Cat III A and Cat III B) operator must ensure decision height is
not lower than:

The minimum decision height specified in the AFM, if stated.

The minimum decision height to which the precision approach aid can be
used with the required visual reference.

or, the decision height to which the flight crew are authorised to operate.
For Cat IIIA and Cat IIIB ops conducted with either fail passive flight control systems, or with use of
approved HUDLS, a pilot may not continue an approach below decision height unless he can see a
segment of at least 3 consecutive lights; centre line of approach lights, or touchdown lights, or
runway centre line lights, or runway edge lights.
For Cat IIIB ops with fail-operational flight control systems a pilot cannot continue past decision
height unless he can see at least 1 centre light.
For Cat IIIC ops with no decision height there is no requirement for visual contact.

Circling
An option will always be available to make an instrument approach to one runway and then carry
out a circling manoeuvre to land onto another runway more suitably into the wind or to meet ATC
requirements. This is called Visual Manoeuvring Circling (VM(C)).

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Aeroplane Category

MDH

400 ft

500 ft

600 ft

700 ft

Minimum Met
Visibility

1500 m

1600 m

2400 m

3600 m

Visual Approach

IFR approach completed with visual reference to terrain. Operator should not
conduct visual approaches when the RVR is less than 800m.

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