All Weather Operations Guide (AWOG)
All Weather Operations Guide (AWOG)
Issue 0, Rev. 1
06.01.2021
Lauda Europe Ltd.
Level 3, 191 Triq Marina
Tal-Pietà
PTA 9041
Malta
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be used or reproduced in any manner whatever
without written permission of Lauda Europe Ltd..
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Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................................................................. 2
1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 6
1.1 THE DOCUMENT HAS THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: ......................................................................................................... 6
2 DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................................................. 7
2.1 ALL WEATHER OPERATIONS (AWO)............................................................................................................................ 7
2.2 LOW VISIBILITY PROCEDURES (LVP)............................................................................................................................. 7
2.3 LOW VISIBILITY TAKE-OFF (LVTO) .............................................................................................................................. 7
2.4 AUTOFLIGHT SYSTEM ................................................................................................................................................ 7
2.5 FAIL OPERATIONAL AUTOMATIC LANDING SYSTEM ......................................................................................................... 7
2.6 DECISION ALTITUDE/HEIGHT (DA/H) .......................................................................................................................... 7
2.7 MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE/HEIGHT (MDA/H) ........................................................................................................ 7
2.8 STABILISED APPROACH (SAP) ..................................................................................................................................... 8
3 GENERAL ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.1 CATEGORY II......................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 CATEGORY IIIA ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.3 CATEGORY IIIB ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.4 CAT IIIA AND CATIIIB OBJECTIVE ........................................................................................................................... 9
3.5 LTS – LOWER THAN STANDARD CAT I .................................................................................................................. 9
3.6 CONCEPT OF MINIMA .......................................................................................................................................... 9
3.7 CATEGORIES ......................................................................................................................................................10
3.7.1 CAT II Operation minima (Air Ops Part A 8.4.1.2/AMC 4 SPA.LVO.100) .......................................................10
3.7.2 CAT III Operation minima (Air Ops Part 8.4.1.3/AMC 5 SPA.LVO.100) .........................................................10
3.8 LAUDAMOTION APPROVALS (AIR OPS PART A 8.4.5/PART SPA.LVO.120).............................................................11
3.9 CAT.OP.MPA.305 COMMENCEMENT AND CONTINUATION OF APPROACH ......................................................................12
3.10 GM1 CAT.OP.MPA.305 (F)..................................................................................................................................12
3.11 WHY CATEGORY II/IIIA/IIIB? ..............................................................................................................................12
3.12 APPROACH BAN .................................................................................................................................................12
3.12.1 WHY HAVE THE APPROACH BAN AT ALL? ................................................................................................13
3.12.2 WHY DOES THE APPROACH BAN APPLY BEFORE 1000 ft ALL BUT NOT AFTER? ......................................13
3.13 DECISION HEIGHT CONCEPT. .............................................................................................................................13
3.14 VISUAL REFERENCE ............................................................................................................................................14
3.14.1 For Category II/ IIIA:..................................................................................................................................14
3.14.2 For a CATII approach: ...............................................................................................................................14
3.14.3 For a CATIIIA approach: ............................................................................................................................14
3.14.4 EFFECT OF THE COCKPIT CUT-OFF ANGLE ON VISUAL REFERENCE. .........................................................14
3.14.5 DRIFT ANGLE .............................................................................................................................................15
4 OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................................. 16
4.1 PLANNING REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATIONS DURING LOW VISIBILITY OPERATIONS: ...................................16
4.2 DISPATCH PERFORMANCE .................................................................................................................................17
4.3 CHECK AIRCRAFT AUTOLAND STATUS ...............................................................................................................17
5 TAXI ............................................................................................................................................................ 18
5.1 TAXIWAY LIGHTING ...........................................................................................................................................18
5.1.1 Colour Coded Taxiway Centreline Lighting ...................................................................................................20
5.2 STOP BARS AND LEAD-ON LIGHTS .....................................................................................................................20
5.3 TAXIWAY GUIDANCE SYSTEM ............................................................................................................................21
5.4 TAXIWAY INTERSECTION LIGHTS .......................................................................................................................21
5.5 REFLECTIVE TAXIWAY EDGE MARKERS AND CENTRELINE STUDS......................................................................21
5.6 SIGNS .................................................................................................................................................................21
5.7 RUNWAY TAXI-HOLDING POSITION (RTHP) SIGN FOR CATEGORY II AND III OPERATIONS ................................22
6 RUNWAY LIGHTING ..................................................................................................................................... 25
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INTENTIONALLY BLANK
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1 INTRODUCTION
This document is issued to Lauda Europe Crew Members and covers the Low
Visibility Procedures used by Lauda Europe. It is to be used in conjunction with
Air Operations Manual Part A, the Flight Crew Operations Manuals and the Flight
Crew Technique Manual. It is not intended to replace those manuals. A thorough
knowledge of these documents is a prerequisite to Low Visibility Operations.
Where any conflict arises between the contents of the All Weather Operations
Guide and the contents of Operations Manual Part A, Airbus FCOM/FCTM, the
contents of Air Operations Manual Part A and the FCOM/FCTM will take
precedence.
This document forms part of all initial LVO training programmes, it is designed as
a self-study guide and must be studied by all students as part of the ground
school syllabus.
To provide guidance to Lauda Europe flight crew in all aspects of All Weather
Operation (Low Visibility Operations).
To emphasize the importance of the visual cues provided by the approach and
runway lighting systems during Low Visibility Operations.
To illustrate the runway and taxiway markings associated with Low Visibility
Operations.
To list the requirements for Ground Equipment and Aircraft Equipment together
with the allowable deficiencies in such equipment.
This information applies to Lauda Europe Airbus A320 aircrafts, which are
equipped to allow CAT II & IIIA & CATIIIB operations.
It is policy to maintain the fleet to CAT IIIB status.
Lauda Europe shall only conduct the following Low Visibility Operations (LVO)
when approved by the Authority:
• Low Visibility Take-off (LVTO)
• Standard Category II (CAT II)
• Standard Category III (CAT III)
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2 DEFINITIONS
The following are definitions of various aspects of low visibility operations and are
in compliance with the recommendations of Part SPA.LVO and associated AMC
material for CAT II, CAT IIIA and CATIIIB operations.
Lauda Europe shall not use an aerodrome for LVOs below a visibility of 800m
unless:
The aerodrome has been approved for such operations by the State of the
aerodrome; and
Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) have been established.
If the term LVP is not used, the equivalent procedures that adhere to the
requirements of LVP at the aerodrome must be stated in the Navtech charts in
use thereby assuring an equivalent level of safety. If an LVP or equivalent
procedure is not presented in the Navtech charts or airfield brief, autolands shall
not be conducted in LVP.
3 GENERAL
Lauda Europe require CATII, CATIIIA, CATIIIB approaches to be conducted to an
AUTOLAND.
3.1 CATEGORY II
A category II approach is a precision instrument approach and landing with
decision height lower than 200ft (60m) but not lower than 100ft (30m), and a
runway visual range not less than 300m (1000ft).
In contrast to other operations, CAT IIIA and CATIIIB weather minimum does not
provide sufficient visual references to allow a manual landing to be made. The
minima only permit the pilot to decide if the aircraft will land in the touchdown
zone.
Therefore, an automatic landing system is mandatory to perform Category IIIA
and IIIB operations. Its reliability must be sufficient to control the aircraft to
touchdown in CAT IIIA and CATIIIB operations.
Airfield operating minima: established in accordance with the airport authority and
published on approach charts.
Crew minima: lowest minima that the crew is authorized to operate, depending on
the crew qualification.
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Aircraft minima: lowest minima, which have been demonstrated during aircraft
certification. These minima are indicated in the AFM.
For all CAT II / CAT IIIA/CATIIIB operations, these minima consist of a DH and an
RVR.
3.7 CATEGORIES
3.7.1 CAT II Operation minima (Air Ops Part A 8.4.1.2/AMC 4 SPA.LVO.100)
3.7.2 CAT III Operation minima (Air Ops Part 8.4.1.3/AMC 5 SPA.LVO.100)
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If, after descending below 1 000 ft AAL, the reported RVR/visibility falls below the
applicable minimum, the Pilot-in-Command may continue the approach to DA or
MDA and the landing may be completed provided that the required visual
reference is established.
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In LVO conditions, during this decision process the pilot must assess the
adequacy of the external references and also evaluate the flight path in relation to
those references. The process is assumed to last some three seconds and
therefore to start about 34ft prior to the DH. For there to be a high probability of
obtaining adequate visual references, it has been established that the segment
visible to the pilot should be of the order of 160m by the end of the decision
process. This is equivalent to 3 seconds of ground speed. Obviously this makes it
difficult, if not impossible, to assess precisely what the visibility is. There is no
time to start counting lights. The pilot also has little time to assess the trend in
visibility as the aircraft progresses towards and along the runway. It is therefore
considered prudent to prohibit the start (or continuation) of an approach if
conditions at DH are likely to be unfavourable for a successful landing.
3.12.2 WHY DOES THE APPROACH BAN APPLY BEFORE 1000 ft ALL BUT NOT AFTER?
This is due to the fact that if the RVR was above minima when the aircraft was
above 1000 ft AAL but has since deteriorated then there is likely a fluctuating
RVR situation present. The Approach is allowed to continue, as there is still a
reasonable chance of improvement in RVR. This also minimizes crew distraction
caused by continual RVR readouts during the approach.
In Category IIIA operations, the DH is lower than 100ft (typically equal to 50ft for a
fail- passive automatic landing system).
Thus, the actual number of lights required to be visible at DH stems from the
physiological requirements of being able to determine lateral level and cross-track
position and velocity, rather than from any calculation of the number of lights
which ought to be visible in a given RVR. Such calculation would be purely
theoretical.
The factors which affect cockpit cut-off angle for a given flap setting are:
• Aircraft approach speed.
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The number of approach lights visible from the visual segment will be reduced by
the distance lost under the Cockpit Cut-off Angle.
The distance lost under the Cockpit Cut-off Angle will decrease with aircraft
height.
The pilots should have a clear understanding of the relationships between those
points on the aircraft which constitute the datum for glide-path and radio altimeter
inputs, and the geometry of the aircraft which dictates the Cockpit Cut-off Angle,
thus determining the pilot’s visual segment.
4 OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
4.1 PLANNING REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATIONS DURING LOW
VISIBILITY OPERATIONS:
Check NOTAMS and MET Forecasts for destination and alternate airports. For
the selected destination airport, the appropriate weather reports or forecasts or
any combination thereof indicate that, during a period commencing 1 hour before
and ending 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival at the airport, the weather
conditions will be at or above the applicable landing minima with regard to the
RVR/visibility and also, in the case of a non-precision or a circling approach, the
ceiling at or above the MDA.
There shall be an adequate airport along the route, no further than the distance
flown in still air, in 60 min at the one engine inoperative cruise speed.
The distance travelled in 1 hour at the one engine inoperative cruise speed is
419nm.
Lauda Europe shall specify any required alternate aerodromes in the operational
flight plan.
Consider requirements for extra fuel to be loaded. Allow for delays at the
destination during CAT II/IIIA/IIIB LVP’s. A backlog will exist even after weather
improvements. Low visibility, thunderstorms etc., are events, which clearly do not
provide reasonable certainty of landing, and generally there will be extra fuel
uplifted to address these conditions. There is a balance between the cost of
holding for a lengthy period at destination and the cost of a diversion.
Confirm Flight Crew qualification.
A takeoff alternate shall be selected and specified in the operational flight plan if
the weather conditions at the aerodrome of departure are at or below the
applicable aerodrome operating minima or it would not be possible to return to the
aerodrome of departure for other reasons. The takeoff alternate must be located
within 419nm.
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For low visibility operations in less than 800m, the aerodrome must be approved
and low visibility procedures established. If the term LVP is not used, then
equivalent procedures must be established.
The required equipment for CAT II and CATIII Approach and Landing are detailed
in AFM/"NORMAL PROCEDURES - 22 AUTO FLIGHT SYSTEM - PRECISION
APPROACH - REQUIRED EQUIPEMENT FOR CAT II AND CAT III APPROACH
AND LANDING".
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5 TAXI
Low Visibility taxi is one of the most demanding phases of flight. ONLY the
Captain is allowed to taxi during LVP – below 400m RVR. A good briefing for the
taxi- out or taxi-in phase is extremely important and should be completed during
departure and arrival briefing. TEM considerations must be discussed. NO
PAPERWORK SHOULD BE DONE DURING TAXI-OUT OR TAXI-IN, IN LVP’S.
F/O must follow taxi route as per EFB Navtech chart opened in the Chart+
application. The EFB has to be correctly stowed on the respective mount.
In low visibility the Captain will normally follow the green lights on the taxi routing.
If this lighting is not available, confirm taxiways with airport signage and HDG on
flight instruments. Bear in mind that in poor visibility, e.g. 100m (380ft) RVR, one
might expect to see bright lights 100m away, but not unlit or poorly lit obstacles
such as aircraft tails or wingtips. From certain angles their navigation lights are
not readily discernible and the greatest distance from which a white painted
aircraft may be visible in 100m RVR may be less than 75m.
Movement rates will be low in these conditions, therefore taxi slowly. Use of
Ground Movement radar, flight instruments, and an aerodrome chart will help to
assess the aircraft position and help in anticipating bends in the taxiways.
Centreline light spacing may be reduced on bends and caution should be
exercised when coming out of the bend where the lighting reverts to normal. Be
careful not to pass the Cat II & Cat III holding point.
Green taxiways centreline lights may be illuminated beyond the Cat II/III holding
point if it does not coincide with a taxiway stop-bar, or if a preceding aircraft is just
lining up. It is most important for pilots to be particularly careful at all times, NOT
to inadvertently stray on to operating runways, but particularly when visibility on
the aerodrome is impaired by fog or low cloud. Discuss and review any Runway
Incursion Hotspots on Charts. Great care must be taken to read, callout and
interpret correctly all pertinent signs to verify position. Particular attention should
be focused on marker boards that are placed to identify taxiways, intersections
and approaches to runways (active or non-active and holding points), prior to
entering the active runway. Very careful perusal of the aerodrome surface charts
and maintaining a watchful lookout for taxiway identification and other marker
boards is vital, if incursions on to an active runway are to be avoided.
If there is any doubt about the position of the aircraft whilst taxiing before takeoff
or after landing, STOP and inform ATC immediately, for their information. Ask for
guidance in Standard English ATC phraseology. ATC can then immediately give,
the necessary urgent instructions to aircraft about to depart or land; to
discontinue, takeoff or approach as applicable, before taxiing assistance and
guidance is offered to the ‘lost’ crew.
NOTE 2: Taxiway centrelines are intended to provide safe clearance between the
largest aircraft that the taxiway is designed to accommodate and fixed objects
such as buildings, aircraft stands etc., provided that the pilot of the taxiing aircraft
keeps the 'Cockpit' of the aircraft on the centreline and that aircraft on stands are
properly parked. Taxi Holding Positions are normally located so as to ensure
clearance between an aircraft holding and any aircraft passing in front of the
holding aircraft, provided that the holding aircraft is properly positioned behind the
holding position. Clearance to the rear of any holding aircraft cannot be
guaranteed. When following a taxiway route, pilots and persons towing aircraft
are expected to keep a good lookout, consistent with the prevailing visibility and
are responsible for taking all possible measures to avoid a collision with another
aircraft or a vehicle.
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Where part of a taxiway equipped with centreline lighting lies within the ILS
Sensitive Area or is sufficiently close to a runway that aircraft on that part of the
taxiway would present an obstruction to aircraft landing or taking-off, that part of
the taxiway will be identified by alternate green and yellow centreline lights, as
shown at Figure 1.0. Pilots should avoid stopping with any part of their aircraft in
such areas.
The Lead-on Lights are interlinked with the Stop Bar so that when the Stop Bar is
'on' the green centreline beyond the Stop Bar is 'off' and vice versa, as shown in
Figure 1.0. In this way, the Stop Bar and associated Lead-on Lights act in the
same sense as traffic lights; therefore, pilots must not taxi an aircraft across a
Stop Bar that is lit. Stop bars are provided at entrances to runways, e.g. runway
holding positions, and may also be provided at taxiway intersections and at other
locations.
5.6 SIGNS
The signs located on an aerodrome when used in conjunction with an aerodrome
chart are intended to simplify surface movement guidance and control
procedures, particularly in conditions of low visibility. Signs are divided into two
categories, namely Mandatory Signs and Information Signs.
Note: 1: The signs at (i) are used where the taxiway normally serves only one
runway direction. The signs at (ii) are used where the taxiway normally serves
both runway directions.
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The diagrams in Figure 1.3 illustrate typical signs associated with various Runway
Taxi-holding positions on Taxiway ‘A’ leading to the threshold of Runway 27 and
on Taxiway ‘D’ leading to an intermediate taxiway entrance to Runway 09-27.
NOTE: The signs at intermediate taxiway entrances as shown at Figure 1.3 (b)
and (d) show the runway designation in both directions; a left turn is required to
reach the threshold of Runway 09 and a right turn to reach the threshold of
Runway 27.
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6 RUNWAY LIGHTING
All runways licensed for night use have Edge, Threshold and End Lighting.
Centreline and Touchdown Zone Lighting is provided as additional guidance in
support of low visibility operations.
Runway Edge Lighting is located along the edges of the area declared for use as
the runway delineated by white edge markings, and may be provided either by
elevated or by flush fitting lamp fixtures. At some aerodromes where elevated
runway edge lights are employed, the light fixtures may be located on the grass
shoulder just beyond the declared runway width. Portable battery operated lights
may be used in place of fixed lamp fittings at small aerodromes where limited
operations take place at night.
In most European states the edge of the starter extensions is marked with solid
white lines the same as runway edges however some states have used dashed
lines to define runway starter extensions, crew should remain vigilant to the
possibility of confusing dashed edge markings with the centerline marking in
states that use this system. E.g Italy.
Wrong alignment with the runway edge rather than runway centre line.
NOTE: When lining up in reduced visibility use extreme care not to mistake
Runway Edge Lights for Runway Centerline Lights, as they may both be white.
Ensure the aircraft lines up with the centerline lights.
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For an LVTO with a Runway Visual Range (RVR) below 400m the criteria
specified in Table 1A (BELOW) should be used.
For an LVTO with an RVR below 150m but not less than 125m:
High intensity runway centreline lights spaced 15m or less and high intensity
edge lights spaced 60m or less are in operation;
A 90m visual segment is available from the cockpit at the start of the takeoff run;
and
The required RVR value has been achieved for all of the relevant RVR reporting
points.
This 125m approval is listed in the OPS SPEC. When assessing RVR during LVO
Takeoffs, it is important to be familiar with the correct lighting systems associated
with the runway in use. This information is normally found on Navtech chart 10-1
under ‘Aerodrome’. For example, below shows EMA 09/27 with centerline lighting
spacing at 15m intervals.
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With very limited visibility, directional control with reference to the centreline lights
is difficult, particularly with the asymmetric moment of an engine failure, and loss
of the centreline lights streaming, as IAS reduces. This demands early corrections
to maintain the centre line.
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In addition to the usual approach setup and briefing, crews shall take note of the
following:
8.1 ANNOUNCEMENT
Airports approved for CATII/IIIA/IIIB will put into force “low visibility procedures”
(LVPs) when weather conditions warrant. This will normally be announced on the
ATIS or by ATC.
Specific holding points for taxiing aircraft are enforced and illuminated to ensure
obstruction and interference from obstacles is minimized. Separation from arriving
and departing aircraft is increased to avoid interference.
Refer to Navtech charts for airport specific low visibility departure or arrival
procedures.
NOTE:
A320
Refer to AFM/Autoland Landing Distance Increments.
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Multiple failures of runway lights other than indicated in Table 7 are not
acceptable;
Deficiencies of approach and runway lights are treated separately;
For CAT II and CAT III operations, a combination of deficiencies in runway lights
and RVR assessment equipment are not permitted; and
Failures other than ILS, affect RVR only and not DH.
8.5 APPROACH USING LOC G/S FOR CATII CATIII (REF. FCTM)
The FCTM/APPROACH USING LOC G/S FOR CATII CATIII guidance must be
used as a basis for every CAT II, CATIIIA/CATIIIB approach briefing.
SPA.LVO.105)
CAT III approved runway ends can be found in Docunet/CAT III Approved Rwy
List under Checklists section. Each aircraft type/runway combination is verified by
the successful completion of at least one approach and landing in CAT II or better
conditions, prior to commencing CAT III operations. For runways with irregular
pre-threshold terrain or other foreseeable or known deficiencies, each aircraft
type/runway combination is verified by operations in CAT 1 or better conditions,
prior to commencing CAT III.
Airports and runway ends contained within the table have had an initial
verification autoland and can therefore be used for CAT IIIA & CAT IIIB
operations as indicated.
This table is only applicable to CAT IIIA & CAT IIIB approaches. CAT II
approaches do not require reference to the table.
SEP refers:
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has informed us that on this occasion all
electronic devices must be completely switched off for the landing, this includes
devices in Airplane or Flight mode. Thank you”
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When the RVR is just below minimum, and it is necessary to decide whether to
remain in the hold for an improvement or to divert, bear in mind that the Volmet
and ATIS RVRs may not be the same as the current RVR. If workload permits,
monitor the Tower frequency to get the latest RVR.
When the visibility is rapidly improving, the low visibility safeguarding procedures
may be abandoned by ATC in order to increase the traffic flow. If this should
occur after the aircraft has left the hold, a call to the Tower will enable the
controller to advise that appropriate protection is no longer available. If that is the
case, it is then the pilot’s responsibility to check that the sensitive area is clear of
other aircraft.
9.1 PROCEDURE
CPT (LHS) shall always be PF.
If there are no adequate visual cues at minimums, the CPT executes the go
around.
9.2 CALLOUTS
Refer to FCOM/FCTM.
9.3 GO-AROUNDS
The Commander may elect to go-around from a low visibility approach at any
time if there is any doubt as to whether the approach can be flown in a safe
manner to a successful landing.
The crew should, at no stage below 500ft AGL, hesitate or discuss whether a go-
around is required or not.
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It is important to understand what the various lights indicated to the pilot, which
lights he/she expects to see, and when. At those aerodromes where Category
II/IIIA/IIIB approaches are conducted, Supplementary Approach Lighting
consisting of centreline barrettes and two rows of red side barrettes, as shown at
Figure 1.5 (C), are installed in order to provide the pilot with enhanced visual cues
over the last 300m of the approach.
Approach lights are symbolized in recognizable form, and at the same scale as
the airport chart. Typical examples:
Figure 1.6
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If the horizon is obscured, the crossbars are in dynamic motion. The distance to
the farthest visible lights may appear to vary due to inconsistency and density of
the fog. This situation can create the illusion that the aircraft is porpoising.
To compound the above, a strong illusion of being too high on the slot is created
when transitioning from instruments to visual in low visibility. This illusion is quite
simply caused by the fact that the forward limit of visibility – to the pilot’s
perception, the horizon – is much lower than usual (in fact it is half-way down the
windscreen).
RETILs consist of six yellow lights adjacent to the runway centreline and
configured in a three/two/one pattern spaced 100 m apart; the single light is 100
m from the start of the turn for the rapid exit taxiway, see Figure 1.8.
Figure 1.8
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11 AERODROME FACILITIES
When Low Visibility Operations are planned for an aerodrome, all the facilities of
the aerodrome must be considered and assessed for their suitability for such
operations. Special procedures, and, in some instances, additional equipment,
may be required to ensure that these operations can be conducted safely.
This section of the guidance is intended to provide baseline requirements for the
development of detailed procedures. The actual facilities and procedures required
at any aerodrome depend on the type of operations to be conducted at that
aerodrome.
The specific types of operations that require LVP are:
A. Departure operations in RVR less than a value of 400m.
B. CAT II and CAT IIIA/IIIB approach and landing operations.
The extent and complexity of the procedures depend on the operations being
conducted, but the objective of the LVP is to protect the physical area around the
runway and also to protect any guidance signals that may be used during these
operations.
11.5 EQUIPMENT
ILS ground equipment serving instrument runways must have no-break power
supplied by dual systems located and operated according to ICAO Annex 10,
Volume 1 Standards and Recommended Practices. Automatic monitor systems
according to the requirements of Annex 10, Volume 1, Part 1, are to be provided
for all ILS ground systems components. Localizers (LLZ) certified for Cat II and/or
Cat IIIA/IIIB operations are to be additionally monitored by a far-field monitor.
Pilots will be informed without delay of any deficiency.
For example, in Dublin RWY 10/28 the CAT II minima differs from 100ft. The
minima set is the published minima 94ft, 106ft respectively which provides 100ft
DH above the threshold.
The fact that the RVR is at or above limits in no way obliges a pilot to attempt a
landing in these conditions - it merely allows the Pilot to make an approach and
judge the visual conditions. The decision to land is made by the pilot, not by the
RVR. The RVR value is, therefore, best regarded only as the means of
determining whether or not an approach ban exists. The accurate, regular and
frequent RVR reporting required for this purpose will at the same time provide a
good indication of conditions on the runway in the touchdown zone for landing
aircraft.
Runway Visual Range is a measure of the opacity of the horizontal sample of the
atmosphere at a low height it can take no account of vertical density changes.
With regard to fog structure, data gathered in the United Kingdom over a twenty-
year period has shown that in deep stable fog there is a 90% probability that the
slant visual range from eye heights higher than 15ft above the ground will be less
than the horizontal visibility at ground level, i.e. RVR. There are at present no
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data available to show what the relationship is between the Slant Visual Range
and RVR in other low visibility conditions such as blowing snow, dust or heavy
rain, but there is some evidence in pilot reports that the lack of contrast between
visual aids and the background in such conditions can produce a relationship
similar to that observed in fog.
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12 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Although a shallow fog is the usual cause of decreasing visual segment under
stable fog conditions, a similar effect can be experienced in a dense fog where
the density is greatest near the surface. In this case, as height decreases, the
pilot is looking through fog steadily increasing density and a reduction of visual
segment may be experienced at quite a low height.
Much of the significance of the above applies more to Cat II operation, since Cat
IIIA decision height, even allowing for the fact that the decision to land is made at
eye level, ensures that the aircraft will be below the worst of the fog. At this
height, the visual segment should be either increasing or constant, but not still
decreasing.
Night and day naturally affect visual cues. At night the lights stand out in contrast
and afford better visual information than during daytime. During day operations,
the lights will be less discernible and the visual segment will appear shorter.
Despite this, most pilots are more comfortable in daytime, due to better cockpit
visibility and cues available from runway contrast and markings
Windshear is a sustained change in the wind velocity along the aircraft flight path,
which occurs significantly faster than the aircraft can accelerate or decelerate.
Windshear can occur at any level, but it is low-level windshear, occurring from the
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A combination of factors can make the analysis of windshear very complex, but
three simple examples of the hazards of low-level windshear are shown below:
a) As the aircraft flies from A to B and traverses the windshear line, the
inertia of the aircraft maintains the ground speed of 170kt and the change
of wind vector causes a sudden fall in airspeed. This can result in reduced
lift until the inertia of the aircraft has been overcome and the original
airspeed regained. Clearly this may be hazardous at critical climb-out
speeds;
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12.8 LANDING
Unfortunately, flight crews do not always receive up to date information on
whether a runway is contaminated or not. This may arise from three causes:
The airmanship conclusion, which may be drawn from the above, is that even
though it is believed that the runway is not contaminated, it may be found on
touch down that the surface is contaminated, at least in part, and especially by
liquid water. Therefore, the issues relevant to an intended contaminated runway
landing may have to be considered when preparing to land in bad weather in
order to reduce the risk of runway excursions due to loss of control on low friction
surfaces.
The autobrakes should remain engaged until a safe stop is assured and adequate
visibility exists to control the airplane using visual references.
Refer to FCOM and FCTM for Performance in Normal & Abnormal Operations.
One of simplest assumptions made about clouds is that cloud droplets are in a
liquid form at temperatures warmer than 0°C and that they freeze into ice crystals
within a few degrees below zero. In reality, however, 0°C marks the temperature
below which water droplets become supercooled and are capable of freezing.
While some of the droplets actually do freeze spontaneously just below 0°C,
others persist in the liquid state at much lower temperatures.
Aircraft icing occurs when supercooled water droplets strike an aircraft whose
temperature is colder than 0°C. The effects icing can have on an aircraft can be
quite serious and include:
• Disruption of the smooth laminar flow over the wings causing a decrease
in lift and an increase in the stall speed. This effect is particularly
dangerous. An “iced” aircraft is effectively an “experimental” aircraft with
an unknown stall speed.
• Restriction of visibility as the Windshield glazes over.
• Increase in angle of attack further reducing visibility.
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Initial training for LVO procedures includes ground school training, simulator
training as laid out on syllabus form and line flying under supervision that includes
requirements for autolands to be conducted.
A First Officer or Second Officer may conduct these practice approaches in CAT I
or better conditions under the supervision of a line captain who is himself LVO
qualified on the aircraft being flown. A captain completing this part of his initial
LVO training will require the supervision of either a Line Training Captain or TRE.
During recurrent LVO training crews will conduct at least two LVO approaches
and an LVTO. Crews should complete the LVO Recurrency form that can be
found on E-learning and log evidence of 1 CAT II/IIIA/IIIB approach in the
previous 6 months.
The below pictures at respectively 200ft & 100ft AGL show the visual references
without centerline lights and weather conditions OVC003 – RVR1000m.