Aerodrome Operating Minima

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An Effort by:
Arvind Kumar Singh
•26 December 2015 •1•Aerodrome Operating Minima

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References: DGCA Regulation/ICAO Docs
 CAR Section 8-Aircraft Operations-Series C-Part I dated 13-6-2013-
All Weather Operations (AWO)
 ICAO Document - All Weather Operations (DOC 9365)
 ATMC 8 of 2013
 This Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) provides methodology of
calculating AOM-
 Scheduled, Non-scheduled and General Aviation operators and
 the procedure for obtaining approval of Aerodrome Operating
Minima.

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Aerodrome Operating Minima
 Aerodrome Operating Minima is established
 To ensure desired level of safety in aeroplane operations at
an aerodrome by limiting these operations in specified
weather conditions.
 The weather limits of usability of an aerodrome for
 Take off-
RVR and/or visibility and if necessary cloud conditions
 Landing in precision approach and with vertical guidance –
Visibility and/or RVR and DA/H
 Landing in non –precision-
 Visibility and/or RVR
 MDA/H and,
 If necessary, cloud conditions.

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Categories of Aeroplane
 Vat Speed at threshold based on 1.3 times stall speed
Vso or 1.23 times stall speed Vslg in the landing
configuration at maximum certificated landing mass.
Category of aircraft Speeds (IAS) at threshold (Vat) Kt
A <91
B 91 to 120
C 121 to 140
D 141 to 165
E 166 to 210

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ILS Operations
 CAT I operation
 DA/H  60m(200ft)
 Visibility  800m or RVR  550m
 CAT II operation
 60m(200ft) DA/H  30m(100ft)
 RVR  300m
 CAT III operation
CAT IIIA : DA/H  30m(100ft) and RVR  175m
CAT IIIB : DA/H  15m(50ft) and 175m > RVR 50m
CAT IIIC : No DA/H and No RVR limitations
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Low visibility procedures (LVP)
 Specific procedures
During Categories II and III approaches
and/or low visibility take-offs.
Low visibility take-off (LVTO)
Take-off on a runway where the RVR is less
than 400 m.

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Aerodrome Operating Minima -General
By Indian operators and at Indian aerodromes.
•Normal AOM
• To be applied by scheduled operators.
•Restricted AOM (additives of height and visibility to the normal
AOM)
• By non-scheduled and general aviation operators.
• By PICs when operating to an aerodrome as required by
CAR Section 8 Series O Part II Para 9.4.3.3 (a).
• By PICs till they have gained command experience of 100
hours on type.

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Considerations for Calculation of AOM by Airline
 Type, performance and handling characteristics of the aeroplane
 Composition of the flight crew, their competence and experience
 Dimensions and characteristics of the runway in use
 Adequacy and performance of the available visual and non-
visual ground aids
 Equipment available on the aeroplane for the purpose of
navigation and/or control of the flight path, as appropriate,
during take-off, approach, flare, landing, roll-out and missed
approach

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Considerations for Calculation of AOM by Airline (2)
 Obstacles in the approach, missed approach and the climb-out
areas required for the execution of contingency procedures and
necessary clearance
 Obstacle clearance altitude/height for the instrument approach
procedures
 Means to determine and report meteorological conditions
 Flight technique to be used during the final approach.
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Commencement and Continuation of Approach
(Approach Ban Policy)
 Shall not commence an instrument approach if the reported RVR/Visibility is
below the applicable minimum.
 After commencing an instrument approach, the reported RVR/Visibility falls
below the applicable minimum, the approach shall not be continued:
 below 1000 ft above the aerodrome; or
 into the final approach segment in the case where the DA/H or MDA/H is
more than 1000 ft above the aerodrome.
 After passing 1000 ft above the aerodrome elevation, the reported
RVR/visibility falls below the applicable minimum, the approach may be
continued to DA/H or MDA/H.
 RVR is not available, RVR values may be derived by converting the
reported visibility.

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Non-precision Approaches.
 All non-precision approaches shall be flown using (CDFA)
technique
 Calculating the minima the operator shall ensure that
 Applicable minimum RVR is increased
 by 200m for Cat A/B aeroplanes and
 by 400m for Cat C/D
 aeroplanes for approaches not flown using the
CDFA technique,
 providing that the resulting RVR/CMV value does not
exceed 5000m.

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Multiple RVR
 The touch-down zone RVR is always
controlling.
 Mid-point and stop-end RVR are
also controlling.
 Minimum RVR value for the mid-
point is 125 m or the RVR required
for the touch-down zone if less, and
50 m for the stop-end.
 For aeroplanes equipped with a
stop-end (roll-out) guidance or
control system, the minimum RVR
value for the mid-point is 50 m.
The values in bold font are required for the
type of operation.

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CMV/Derived RVR
 In cases where theRVR is not reported, a pilot may derive
RVR/CMV by using a mathematical conversion depending upon
type of approach lighting and day/night conditions.
 RVR/CMV may be used to commence or continue an approach to
the applicable DA/MDA.
 The minimum length of approach lights for application of CMV-
420m.

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CMV/Derived RVR (2)
 An Operator should ensure that a meteorological visibility to RVR
conversion is not used;
 for take-off
 for calculating any other required RVR minimum less than 800 m
 for visual/circling approaches
 when reported RVR is available
 RVR is reported above the maximum value, e.g. “RVR more than 1500 metres”, it is
not considered to be a reported value of RVR.
 CMV is not to be used for any RVR minimum below 800m.
 May be used for a visibility minimum of 800m,
 if the reported visibility is below 800m and the RVR is not reported or not
available.

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CMV/Derived RVR Calculation (Table 1 CAR)

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Low Visibility Operations — Aerodrome
Considerations
 An operator shall not use an aerodrome for Category II or
III operations unless the aerodrome is approved for such
operations.
 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.
 PIC shall satisfy that LVPs are in force according to
information received from Air Traffic Services, before
commencing a low visibility take-off.

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Aerodrome Operating minima - Landing
Normal Aerodrome Operating Minima
 Calculated based on the latest information of airport
facilities, procedures and OCAs.
Restricted Aerodrome Operating Minima.
 Restricted AOM shall be based on additives applied to the
Normal AOM as
Restricted AOM = Normal AOM DA(H)/MDA (H) + 100 ft
and normal AOM Visibility/RVR + 400 m .

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Visual Reference
 A pilot may not continue an approach below MDA/MDH
unless at least one of the following visual references for
the intended runway is distinctly visible and identifiable
to the pilot:
elements of the approach light system;
threshold;
threshold markings;
threshold lights;
threshold identification lights;
visual glide slope indicator;
touchdown zone or touchdown zone markings;
touchdown zone lights;
runway edge lights

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Approach Lighting System – Class of facility

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System Minima (Table 3-CAR)

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Required RVR/Visibility
(m) = [(DH/MDH (ft) x
0.3048) / tanα] - length of
approach lights (m)
 where α is the calculation
angle, being a default
value of 3.00° increasing
in steps of 0.10° for
each line in Table 5 up
to 3.77° and then
remaining constant.
Calculation of Minima

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Failed or Downgraded Equipment – Effect on
Landing Minima

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Use of RVR 750M for Cat-I operations
An RVR less than 750 m as indicated in Table 4 may be used
for:
• Cat-I operations to runways with FALS, runway touchdown
zone lights (RTZL) and runway centre line lights (RCLL); or
• Cat-I operations to runways without RTZL and RCLL when
an approved HUDLS, or equivalent approved system, or
when conducting a coupled approach or flight-director-
flown approach to the DH; or
• RNAV with approved vertical guidance approach procedures
to runways with FALS, RTZL and RCLL when using an
approved HUD
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Visual Approach
 Higher of the associated non-precision approach minima
or minimum visibility/RVR of
 2800 m for Category A/B aeroplanes,
 3200 m for Category C aeroplanes and
 3600 m for Category D aeroplanes.
 If visual approach is requested for a runway which has
only a circling approach, the ground visibility shall not be
less than 5 Km.
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 Circling approach and the associated minima will be authorized
for Operators by Flight Standards Directorate as per the training
programme implemented by Operators.
Circling Approach

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Aerodrome Operating Minima – Take off
 Take-off minima expressed as
Visibility or RVR limits,
Factors for each aerodrome planned to be used and
 Aeroplane characteristics.
 Specific need to see and avoid-
Obstacles on departure,
Cloud base limits.

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Aerodrome Operating Minima – Take off
 Avoidance of such obstacles may be accomplished by
Alternate procedural means, such as use of climb
gradients or specified departure paths,
Cloud base restrictions need not be applied.
 Availability of air traffic services to ensure separation of
aircraft and timely and accurate provision of weather,
NOTAM, and other safety information

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RVR/Visibility for Take-off (Commercial Transport
Aeroplanes)

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Procedure as per ATMC 08 of 2013
 Ensure that “Aerodrome operating Minima” of the airport
concerned published by AAI are available in all ATC Units.
 Subject to provisions of the CAR, the ‘AOM ’ of Airlines may be
lower than the minima published by AAI
 The current visibility and RVR and any significant changes shall be
passed
 When Visibility/RVR is at or above the AAI published Minima for
the instrument approach, the arriving aircraft may be cleared for
the approach.
 When Visibility/RVR is below the AAI published Minima for the
instrument approach, the ATCO shall check the minima from the
aircraft;
 If the Visibility/RVR is above the minima reported by the aircraft,
the aircraft may be cleared for the approach.

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 If the Visibility/RVR is below the minima reported by the
aircraft, the aircraft shall be asked for its intentions;
 If the aircraft reports intention to continue the flight for
landing.
 The ATCO shall issue clearance using following
phraseology:
CLEARED FOR (type of approach) APPROACH [RUNWAY
(number)] SUBJECT TO MINIMA.
 In such case, when aircraft makes an approach, a log entry
shall be made.
Occurrence reporting form (Annexure A) shall be
completed by the concerned ATCO and submitted to ATS in-
charge through WSO.
The ATS In-charge, after verification, shall send such
occurrence report to DGCA and ED (ATM).

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 Aircraft reports intention to hold for improvement of
weather, or to divert to an alternate aerodrome,
Appropriate clearances shall be issued
 Visibility/RVR reduces below the AAI published Minima
after the arriving aircraft has commenced approach, ATCO
shall immediately pass the current visibility / RVR to the
aircraft.
 The aircraft is expected to follow the provisions of CAR
and take appropriate actions. If aircraft reports its
intention to continue approach, landing clearance may be
issued at the appropriate time.

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END
•26 December 2015 •34Aerodrome Operating Minima

Aerodrome Operating Minima

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