Confidential Human Factors
Incident Reporting Programme
The Charity
Aviation
Maritime
FC5107
Initial Report
In my base there seems to be a different understanding of the approach ban. In my opinion you cannot continue the approach below 1000ft if the reported RVR is below the minima for that approach. I’ve seen people land with as little as 400m RVR on a LOCDME approach with minimum RVR of 1100m because they saw the runway from 20nm out. Please clarify; if you have enough visual references before 1000ft, but RVR reported is below minima; can you continue?
CAA Comment
CHIRP Comment
The applicable rules are contained in Regulation (EU) 965/2012 CAT.OP.MPA.305 which is specific in that if RVR is below limits and you are above 1000ft then you should not continue an approach below 1000ft even if you can see the runway. There are very good reasons for this because pilots have in the past been caught out by losing sight of the runway in the very last stages of an approach when poorer visibility near the ground can suddenly mean that visual references may be lost. The pragmatic caveat being that for occasions when the reported RVR reduces below limits but you are already below 1000ft, then it is permitted to continue the approach. The applicable rules in Regulation (EU) 965/2012 CAT.OP.MPA.305 state:
Commencement and continuation of approach:
(a) The commander or the pilot to whom conduct of the flight has been delegated may commence an instrument approach regardless of the reported RVR/VIS.
(b) If the reported RVR/VIS is less than the applicable minimum the approach shall not be continued:
(1) below 1000ft above the aerodrome; or
(2) into the final approach segment in the case where the DA/H or MDA/H is more than 1000ft above the aerodrome.
(c) Where the RVR is not available, RVR values may be derived by converting the reported visibility.
(d) If, after passing 1000ft above the aerodrome, the reported RVR/VIS falls below the applicable minimum, the approach may be continued to DA/H or MDA/H.
(e) The approach may be continued below DA/H or MDA/H 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 DA/H or MDA/H and is maintained.
(f) 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 125m or the RVR required for the touchdown zone if less, and 75m for the stopend. For aircraft equipped with a rollout guidance or control system, the minimum RVR value for the midpoint shall be 75m.