CAT.OP.MPA.305 Commencement and continuation of approach

APPLICATION OF RVR OR VIS REPORTS — AEROPLANES

(a)There is no prohibition on the commencement of an approach based on the reported RVR or VIS. The restriction in CAT.OP.MPA.305 applies only if the RVR or VIS is reported and applies to the continuation of the approach past a point where the aircraft is 1 000 ft above the aerodrome elevation or in the FAS, as applicable. APPLICATION OF RVR OR VIS REPORTS — HELICOPTERS

(b)There is no prohibition on the commencement of an approach based on the reported RVR. The restriction in CAT.OP.MPA.305 applies to the continuation of the approach past a point where the aircraft is 1 000 ft above the aerodrome elevation or in the final approach segment as applicable. The prohibition to continue the approach applies only if the RVR is reported and it is below 550 m and below the operating minima. There is no prohibition based on VIS.

(c)If the reported RVR is 550 m or greater, but it is less than the RVR calculated in accordance with AMC5 CAT.OP.MPA.110, a go-around is likely to be necessary since visual reference may not be established at the DH or MDH. Similarly, in the absence of an RVR report, the reported visibility or a digital image may indicate that a go-around is likely. The commander should consider the available options, based on a thorough assessment of risk, such as diverting to an alternate, before commencing the approach. APPLICATION OF RVR OR VIS REPORTS — ALL AIRCRAFT

(d)If a deterioration in the RVR or VIS is reported once the aircraft is below 1 000 ft or in the FAS, as applicable, then there is no requirement for the approach to be discontinued. In this situation, the normal visual reference requirements would apply at the DA/H.

(e)Where additional RVR information is provided (e.g. midpoint and stop end), this is advisory; such information may be useful to the pilot in order to determine whether there will be sufficient visual reference to control the aircraft during roll-out and taxi. For operations where the aircraft is controlled manually during roll-out, Table 1 (aeroplanes) in AMC1 SPA.LVO.100(a) and Table 3 (helicopters) in AMC2 SPA.LVO.100(a) provide an indication of the RVR (e.g. midpoint and stop end) that may be required to allow manual lateral control of the aircraft on the runway.

MINIMUM RVR FOR CONTINUATION OF APPROACH — AEROPLANES

(a)The touchdown RVR should be the controlling RVR.

(b)If the touchdown RVR is not reported, then the midpoint RVR should be the controlling RVR.

(c)Where the RVR is not available, CMV should be used except for the purpose of continuation of an approach in LVO in accordance with AMC10 CAT.OP.MPA.110.

MINIMUM RVR FOR CONTINUATION OF APPROACH — HELICOPTERS

(a)The touchdown RVR should be the controlling RVR.

(b)If the touchdown RVR is not reported, then the midpoint RVR should be the controlling RVR.

VISUAL REFERENCES FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH OPERATIONS For instrument approach operations Type A and CAT I instrument approach operations Type B, at least one of the visual references specified below should be distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot at the MDA/H or the DA/H:

(a)elements of the approach lighting system;

(b)the threshold;

(c)the threshold markings;

(d)the threshold lights;

(e)the threshold identification lights;

(f)the visual glide path indicator;

(g)the TDZ or TDZ markings;

(h)the TDZ lights;

(i)the FATO/runway edge lights; or

(j)for helicopter PinS approaches, the identification beacon light and visual ground reference;

(k)for helicopter PinS approaches, the identifiable elements of the environment defined on the instrument chart;

(l)for helicopter PinS approaches with instructions to ‘proceed VFR’, sufficient visual cues to determine that VFR criteria are met; or

(m)other visual references specified in the operations manual.