8.4 Low Visibility Operations: 8.4.1 Approval
8.4 Low Visibility Operations: 8.4.1 Approval
8.4.1 Approval
SPA.LVO.105, FLT 3.11.9, SPA.LVO.100, SPA.LVO.105 (a) AMC1 (b)
8.4.3.1 General
All approaches shall be flown as stabilized approaches according Avion Express stabilization criteria. Early
stabilized approach technique is recommended. For additional information refer to:
OMA Chapter 8.0.2.2 - Stabilized Approach Criteria
FCTM-PR-NP-SOP-190- APPROACH SPEED TECHNIQUE
The Commander or the pilot to whom conduct of the flight has been delegated may commence an instrument
approach regardless of the reported RVR.
If the reported RVR is less than the applicable minimum the approach shall not be continued:
below 1 000 ft above the aerodrome; or
If, after passing 1.000 ft above the aerodrome, the reported RVR falls below the applicable minimum, the
approach may be continued to DH.
The approach may be continued below DH or and the landing may be completed provided that the visual
reference adequate for the type of approach operation and for the intended runway is established at the DH
and is maintained.
The touchdown zone RVR shall always be controlling. If reported and relevant, the midpoint and stopend RVR
shall also be controlling. The minimum RVR value for the midpoint shall be 125 m or the RVR required for the
touchdown zone if less, and 75 m for the stopend. For aircraft equipped with a rollout guidance or control
system, the minimum RVR value for the midpoint shall be 75 m.
‘Relevant’ in this context means that part of the runway used during the high-speed phase of the landing down
to a speed of approximately 60 kt.
At DH, the visual references specified below shall be distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot:
a segment of at least three consecutive lights being the centerline of the approach lights, or touchdown
zone lights, or runway centerline lights, or runway edge lights, or a combination of them;
this visual reference shall include a lateral element of the ground pattern, such as an approach light
crossbar or the landing threshold or a barrette of the touchdown zone light.
At DH the visual references specified below shall be distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot:
For CAT III operations with fail-passive system - a segment of at least three consecutive lights being the
centerline of the approach lights, or touchdown zone lights, or runway centerline lights, or runway edge
lights, or a combination of these is attained and can be maintained by the pilot.
For CAT III operations with fail-operational system, there is no specification for visual reference with the
runway prior to touchdown.
Avion Express is not authorized for SA CAT I, SA CAT II and EFVS use operations.
Avion Express Airbus A320F are certified and approved for CAT III NO DH.
There may be conditions of equipment unserviceability at dispatch of inflight failure that result in lower approach
and landing capability.
Landing capability may also be determined by airport approach category and facilities.
The landing capability is displayed in the FMA, the following Table 4 shall be used to determine the applicable
minima according to the aircraft capability.
Table 4 – FMA capability vs. DH/RVR
FMA (1) Min. Required Approach Category DH (ft.) (2) RVR (m) (2)
CAT 1 CAT I 200 550
CAT 2 CAT II 100 300
CAT 3 SINGLE CAT III 50 175
CAT 3 DUAL CAT III NO DH 75*
Note (1) The FMA displayed capability do not consider failures of systems not FMGS monitored. Flight
crew shall crosscheck the capability displayed in the FMA with the:
QRH-OPS-REQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR CAT2 AND CAT3
Note (2) For CAT I and CAT II operations refer to the DH and RVR published in the approach charts.
*- 125 m if no Auto Rollout
These instructions are intended for use both pre-flight and in-flight. It is however not expected that the
Commander would consult such instructions after passing 1.000 ft above the aerodrome. If failures of ground
aids are announced at such a late stage, the approach could be continued at the Commander’s discretion. If
failures are announced before such a late stage in the approach, their effect on the approach shall be
considered as described in the table, and the approach may have to be abandoned.
The following conditions shall be applicable to the tables below:
Multiple failures of runway lights other than those indicated in the table are not acceptable;
Deficiencies of both the approach and runway lights are acceptable at the same time and the most
demanding consequence should be applied;
For approach operations with a DH below 200 ft, a combination of deficiencies in runway lights and
RVR assessment equipment are not permitted; and
Failures other than ILS affect the RVR only and not DH.
The table related to the effect in landing minima of temporarily failed or downgraded equipment may be found
in:
NAVBLUE-CHARTS+ DOCUMENTS-CHARTS+ GUIDE-MINIMA-[1-13], or
Table 5 below:
In order to conduct CAT II/III operations Avion express shall ensure that:
each aircraft concerned is certified for operations with a decision height (DH) below 200 ft, or no DH,
and equipped in accordance with the applicable airworthiness requirements;
a system for recording approach and/or automatic landing success and failure is established and
maintained to monitor the overall safety of the operation;
the DH is determined by means of a radio altimeter;
the flight crew consists of at least two pilots;
all height call-outs below 200 ft above the aerodrome threshold elevation are determined by a radio
altimeter.
Avion Express aircraft are approved for operation below 200 ft. Refer to:
AFM-LIM-22-FGS-AIRWORTHINESS STANDARD COMPLIANCE
An autoland monitoring program is established to demonstrate that at least 95% of total fleet autoland comply
with the requirements for successful automatic landings as required for Category III NO DH and RVR 75m
operations (this corresponds to autoland with continuous CAT 3 DUAL landing capability).
Operations Engineering Department is responsible for the program that consist in performing a minimum
number of approaches and autoland to guarantee consistent statistics.
Flight crew are encouraged to perform automatic landing regularly to enhance their skill and cooperate with
aircraft performance monitoring program.
When flight crew practice CAT II/III approaches and landing for the purpose of monitoring aircraft performance
or for training the following shall considered:
The flight crew shall be aware that LOC or G/S beam fluctuations, independent of the aircraft system,
may occur. The PF shall be prepared to immediately disconnect the autopilot, and to take the
appropriate action, shall not satisfactory guidance occur;
At least CAT2 capability shall be displayed on the FMA and the flight crew uses CAT II/III procedures;
Visual references shall be obtained at an altitude appropriate for the CAT I approach. If not, a go-
around must be performed;
The correct published CAT II/III minima for the approach shall be inserted in the MCDU. It
shall be emphasized that the legal minima for the practice approach will normally be the
CAUTION applicable Cat I minima. This shall be briefed, and the PM shall make the appropriate “one
hundred above” and “minimums” calls.
In case of no visual reference at CAT I minima a go-around shall be performed
Significant deviations from the flight path not caused by flight crew input;
Misleading information without flight deck alerts;
Loss of airborne navigation equipment functions necessary for the operation;
Loss of functions or facilities at the aerodrome necessary for the operation, including aerodrome
operating procedures, ATC operation (e.g. missed approaches because of ATC instructions),
navigation facilities, visual aids and electrical power supply;
Loss of other functions related to external infrastructure necessary for the operation; and
Any other event causing the approach or landing to be abandoned if occurring repeatedly.
The Commander shall:
Fill section 1 and section 2 of the “F05 - Approach and Autoland Report” (available on Company
Information System) with detailed information about the occurrence
In the IFS, attach a picture of the form to the “Additional Document Pictures” of Pre-Flight reporting and
mark “LVO’ and “Automatic Land” as appropriate in the Post Flight Reporting
Send a scan or picture of the report to:
[email protected]
On CAT II/III approaches and landing the DH is determined by means of Radio Altimeter (RA).
Call-out below 200 feet are determined by means of Radio Altimeter (RA).
Maintenance instructions for the on-board guidance systems are established by Avion Express in liaison with
Airbus and are included in aircraft maintenance program (AMP).
For additional details refer also to:
AMP A320 FAM Avion Express for Airbus A320 Family Aircraft
This entails the verification of the availability of previous operational data, such as records of approaches flown
in the same aerodrome, with the same procedures and aircraft type. A320 and A321 variant are consider one
type for the provision of this chapter. Previous operational data refers to data from:
The operator itself, or when not available
The State of the aerodrome or the TKA issuing the operator’s LVO approval;
The type certificate holder of the aircraft; or
Other operators. Subject to approval of Head of Flight Operations Avion Express may take credit from
other’s operators using the same aircraft type or variant experience and records in complying with this
paragraph.
Previous operational data should only be used if:
It concerns the same runway and there were no relevant changes to the runway and runway
environment;
It is derived in accordance with Table 5 below for the intended operation; and
There is no safety concern for such operation.
Previous operational data may be credited to an aircraft if it is from the same aircraft make and model, unless
the credit from the same aircraft make and model is restricted by the State of aerodrome or authority issuing
operator’s LVO approval or aircraft TC holder or other operator.
Operation from which previous operational data
Intended Operation Remarks
was derived
CAT II — auto-coupled to below DH with CAT II — auto-coupled to below DH with manual
manual landing landing
CAT II or CAT III — automatic landing
CAT II — automatic landing
CAT II — automatic landing
CAT III automatic landing
CAT III— automatic landing CAT III — automatic landing
This desktop assessment compares aircraft data and capabilities and the aerodrome and instrument approach
characteristics. If the aircraft data is compatible with the aerodrome and instrument approach procedure
characteristics, the aerodrome and runway should be considered suitable for the intended LVO. It takes into
account:
Aerodrome data;
Instrument flight procedures; and
The aircraft data and capabilities
The desktop assessment should correspond to the nature and complexity of the operation intended to be
carried out and should take into account the hazards and associated risks inherent in these operations. The
assessment should include the AFM or additional data from the TC/STC holder, instrument flight procedures
and aerodrome data. For CAT II and CAT III landing systems, the runway or airport conditions should include as
a minimum:
The approach path slope;
The runway elevation;
The type of ILS navigation means intended to be used;
The ground profile under the approach path (pre-threshold terrain). The distance should be calculated
from the published threshold. It should be 300 metres, unless otherwise stated by the AFM or additional
data from the TC/STC holder, the State of the aerodrome or AIP data, or TKA issuing the operator’s
LVO approval
The AFM, or additional data from the TC/STC holder; or
The State of the aerodrome or AIP data; or
The TKA issuing the operator’s LVO approval
This is meant to be used if the suitability of the aerodrome for the intended operations could not be positively
assessed by means of the other methods. In that case, an operational assessment becomes necessary, and
actual flights should be performed. The operational assessment should consider the level of complexity of the
aerodrome characteristics. Each aircraft type/runway combination shall be verified by the successful completion
of at least one approach and landing in CAT II or better conditions, prior to commencing CAT III operations if
desktop assessment was not possible.
In addition for runways with irregular pre-threshold terrain or other foreseeable or known deficiencies, each
aircraft type/runway combination shall be verified by operations in CAT I or better conditions, prior to
commencing CAT II or CAT III operations.
The operational assessment should validate the use and effectiveness of the aircraft flight guidance systems,
and operating procedures for the intended operation applicable to a specific instrument flight procedure and
runway
At least one successful autoland shall be performed for successful operational assessment ton the intended
runway.
The operational assessment may be performed in a commercial flight.
For the list of Avion Express CAT II/III autoland airport refer to:
OMC Supplement 2 – Approved Runways for Autoland
Each flight crew member shall undergo initial and recurrent training as specified in:
OMD Chapter 2.1.1
OMD Chapter 2.1.4
During CAT II/III approach Commander shall adhere to type specific Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and
limitations as detailed in:
AFM-LIM-22-FGS-MINIMUN HEIGHT FOR USE OF THE AUTOPILOT
AFM-LIM-22-FGS-CAT II / III OPERATIONS
FCOM-LIM-AFS-AUTOMATIC APPROACH, LANDING AND ROLLOUT
FCOM-PRO-NOR-SOP-18- APPROACH USING LOC G/S GUIDANCE
FCTM-PR-NP-SOP-190- APPROACH USING LOC G/S FOR CATII CATIII
eQRH-NP-APPROACH USING LOC G/S GUIDANCE
8.4.7.3 Crew action in case of autopilot failure below alert height (AH) or DH
SPA.LVO.100 (e)
continue the approach and complete the landing when the Commander determines that this is the safest course
of action.
Commander shall adhere to company standard operating procedures as detailed in:
FCOM-PRO-NOR-SOP-18- APPROACH USING LOC G/S GUIDANCE
FCTM-PR-NP-SOP-190- APPROACH USING LOC G/S FOR CATII CATIII
Avion Express Minimum Equipment List (MEL) includes the minimum equipment that has to be serviceable at
the commencement of an LVO in accordance with the aircraft flight manual (AFM). Refer to:
Avion Express A319/A320/A321 Minimum Equipment List (MEL)
The Commander shall be satisfied that the status of the aircraft and of the relevant airborne systems is
appropriate for the specific operation to be conducted. Refer to:
eQRH-OPS-REQUIREND EQUIPMENT FOR CAT2 AND CAT3