NON-PRECISION APPROACHES AND PRECISION CATEGORY I, II, III APPROACH (CAT I, II, III)

Non-Precision Approaches

General

A Non-Precision Approach (NPA) operation is an instrument approach with a MDH not lower than 250 ft and an RVR/CMV of not less than 750 m.

Non-precision approach procedures are based on the use of ILS without glideslope (LOC only), VOR, NDB, SRA, RNAV or VDF.

Flight Crews should aim to fly all Non-Precision Approaches using the Continuous Descent Final Approach technique (CDFA). To conduct CDFA the pilot must have adequate information of a distance to the runway threshold or applicable approach navaid.

The MDH on a non-precision approach shall not be less than the highest of:
• The OCH for the category of aircraft;
• The system minimum, as contained in the table below;
• Any state minima if applicable; or
• Where a non-precision approach is flown as a continuous descent approach, 50 feet is to be added to the published minima and it is to be treated exactly as the DA during a precision approach i.e. if the specified visual references are not achieved then a go-around is to be initiated.

Note: For operational purposes the MDH calculated must be converted to an MDA.

The lateral part of the missed approach procedure must be flown via the Missed Approach Point unless otherwise stated on the approach chart.

Required visual reference

Non-precision approach shall not be continued below minima unless at least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible to and identifiable by the pilot:
• Elements of the approach light system;
• Threshold, or its markings, lights or identification lights;
• Visual glide slope indicator(s);
• Touchdown zone or zone markings or zone lights;
• Runway edge lights; or
• Other visual references accepted by the Authority and specified in the OM Part C.

Precision Category I Approach (CAT I / CAT 1)

General

A Category I approach operation is a precision instrument approach and landing with:
• Runway visual range (RVR) not less than 550 metres, and
• Decision height (DH) not lower than 200 feet.

The following are Category I approaches that may be used by The Company:
• ILS (CAT I);
• PAR.

Required Visual Reference

Precision approach CAT I shall not be continued below DA unless at least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible to and identifiable by the pilot:
• Elements of the approach lighting system;
• Threshold, or its markings, lights or identification lights;
• Visual glide slope indicator(s);
• Touchdown zone or zone markings or zone lights;
• Runway edge lights.

Precision Category II Approach (CAT II / CAT 2)

General

(ICAO): A Category II approach operation is a precision instrument approach and landing using ILS with:
• A runway visual range (RVR) not less than 350 metres, and
• A decision height (DH) not lower than 100 feet.

The minimum RVR for particular precision approach Category II is governed by the DH, aeroplane approach category and the approach lighting and runway lighting/marking available. Unless stated otherwise, OM Part C (approach charts) shows adequate minimum RVR information to the flight crew.

Required Visual Reference

Precision approach CAT II shall not be continued below DH unless at least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible to and identifiable by the pilot:

• A segment of at least 3 consecutive lights being:
- The centre line of the approach lights, or
- Touchdown zone lights, or
- Runway centre line lights, or
- Runway edge lights, or
- A combination of these; is attained and can be maintained; and
• A lateral element of the ground pattern being:
- An approach lighting crossbar, or
- The landing threshold or a barrette of the touchdown zone lighting.

Approval

The Company is approved to conduct Category II approaches.

Precision Category III Approach (CAT III / CAT 3)

General

A Category III approach operation is a precision instrument approach and landing using ILS divided in two subcategories:
• Category IIIA approach is a precision instrument approach and landing with:
- A runway visual range (RVR) not less than 200 m, and
- A decision height (DH) below 100 ft but not lower than 50 feet.
• Category IIIB approach is a precision instrument approach and landing with:
- A runway visual range (RVR) less than 200 m but not less than 75 m (125 m being The Company limitation), and
- A decision height (DH) below 50 ft or no DH.

Note: Where the decision height (DH) and runway visual range (RVR) do not fall within the same Category, the RVR will determine in which Category the operation is to be considered.

Approval

The Company is approved to conduct Category IIIA and Category IIIB approaches including No Decision Height operations, with lowest required RVR 125 meters. Fleet specific capability is described in the relevant OM Part B and FCOM.

Decision Height

Decision height to be used not shall not be lower than:
• The minimum decision height specified in the AFM;
• The minimum height to which the precision approach aid can be used without the required visual reference;
• The decision height to which the flight crew is authorised to operate.

No Decision Height (No DH) Operations

Operations with no DH may only be conducted if:
• The no decision height operation is authorised in the OM Part B; and
• The approach aid and airport facilities can support operations with no DH.

Note: On a CAT III approved runways it may be assumed that operations with no DH can be supported, unless specifically restricted, as published in the AIP or NOTAM.

Required Visual Reference

Precision approach CAT IIIA using fail-passive flight control system shall not be continued below DH unless a visual reference containing a segment of at least 3 consecutive lights being:
• The centre line of the approach lights, or
• Touchdown zone lights, or
• Runway centre line lights, or
• Runway edge lights, or
• A combination of these, is attained and can be maintained.

Precision approach CAT IIIB using fail-operational flight control system shall not be continued below DH unless a visual reference containing at least 1 centre line light is attained and can be maintained.

For precision approach CAT IIIB operations with no DH there is no requirement for visual contact with the runway prior to touchdown. The required RVR depends on the level of aeroplane equipment.