Instrument number CASA EX27/10
I, JOHN FRANCIS McCORMICK, Director of Aviation Safety, on behalf of CASA, make this instrument under regulation 308 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988).
[Signed John F. McCormick]
John F. McCormick
Director of Aviation Safety
30 April 2010
Exemption — from standard take-off and landing minima – V Australia
1 Duration
This instrument:
(a) commences on the day after it is registered; and
(b) stops having effect at the end of 30 April 2011.
2 Definitions
In this instrument:
ADV means advisory, and refers to information obtained from ATC.
ATC means air traffic control.
CAT means category.
controlling zone means any runway zone where the RVR or RV reading represents the minima for the runway zone.
DH means decision height.
ICUS refers to a pilot and means in command under supervision.
LH means left hand, and refers to the left-hand seat in the cockpit of an aeroplane.
low visibility operation or LVO means:
(a) landing with less than CAT I minima; or
(b) take-off with less than 550 m RV or RVR.
RH means right hand, and refers to the right-hand seat in the cockpit of an aeroplane.
runway zone means the touch down zone (TDZ), the mid-zone (MID) or the end zone (END) of a runway.
RV means runway visibility and is assessed by an approved observer and reported by ATC.
RVR means runway visual range and is measured by instrument and reported by ATC.
3 Application
This instrument applies only to B777-300ER type aircraft (the aircraft):
(a) operated by Virgin Blue International Airlines Pty Ltd, trading as V Australia, Aviation Reference Number 768593 (the operator); and
(b) in low visibility take-off and landing operations; and
(c) at aerodromes where ATC:
(i) is in operation; and
(ii) has informed the pilot of the aircraft that low visibility procedures are in use.
4 Exemption
Each aircraft is exempt from compliance with regulation 257 of CAR 1988 in relation to the standard take-off and landing minima determined by CASA under subregulation 257 (1) of CAR 1988.
Note Details of the determination are set out in AIP En Route 1.5, sections 4.3 and 4.4.
5 Conditions
The exemption is subject to:
(a) the condition that the aircraft must use not less than the aerodrome minima mentioned in Schedule 1; and
(b) the conditions mentioned in Schedule 2.
Schedule 1 Aerodrome minima for LVO
1 At aerodromes that have the facilities required to support low visibility take‑offs and CAT II landings installed and in operation, the following are the minima that may be used by the aircraft mentioned.
2 Within Australia, an aerodrome’s runways capable of supporting LVO will be shown in the AIP or by NOTAM.
Take-off minima
3 Take-off minima with TDZ, MID and END RVR measurements available for B777-300ER aircraft are:
150 m RVR TDZ and 150 m RVR MID and 150 m RVR END.
4 Take-off minima with TDZ and either MID or END measurements available for B777-300ER aircraft are:
(a) 200 m RVR TDZ and 200 m RVR MID or, if RVR MID is not available, then 200 m RVR END; and
(b) 350 m RV TDZ and 350 m RV MID or, if RV MID is not available, then 350 m RV END. For 350 m or greater RV TDZ, the pilot in command must act as the approved observer for the TDZ.
5 Runways without centreline lighting must have a minimum take-off visibility of 350 m.
Landing minima
6 The CAT II landing minima for B777-300ER aircraft are:
(a) visibility: 300 m RVR TDZ and 125 m RVR MID or, if MID RVR is not available, then 125 m RVR END; and
(b) DH: 100 feet.
Visibility measurements
7 The following applies when taking visibility readings:
(a) for visibility:
(i) RVR must be used for a CAT II landing or take-off with less than 350 m visibility; and
(ii) RV may be used when RVR is not available for take-off and runway visibility is at least 350 m;
(b) for controlling zones:
(i) if any runway zone RVR is less than 200 m — 3 zone readings must be obtained from ATC; and
(ii) if a MID zone RVR is required and not available — the END zone RVR may be substituted if shown as ADV.
Schedule 2 Conditions
Operations manual
1 An operations manual must be carried on board the aircraft:
(a) containing all the necessary crew procedures required for safe LVO; and
(b) identifying the aircraft equipment required for an automatic landing in CAT II weather minima.
Training
2 The operator, or an approved training organisation, must certify that each pilot of the aircraft has successfully completed an LVO training course including ground training and flight simulator training.
3 The LVO training course syllabus must be approved in writing by CASA and may not be amended without CASA’s written approval.
Note A sample training course syllabus is in Annex A.
Experience
4 A pilot is authorised for LVO on the aircraft only if he or she has successfully:
(a) completed the aircraft type LVO training in accordance with the approved training syllabus; and
(b) performed 2 autolands in the aircraft in at least CAT I conditions, 1 of which must be performed during line training.
5 Subject to clause 6, unless CASA approves otherwise in writing for an aircraft type with an approved cross-crew qualification transition course, the following pilot experience is required to operate to the minima shown in Schedule 1:
(a) for a captain:
(i) at least 300 hours on any aircraft type as a pilot in command while authorised for CAT II or CAT III operations; and
(ii) at least 100 hours as pilot in command or ICUS or dual in the LH seat on the aircraft type with the operator;
(b) for a co-pilot:
(i) at least 100 hours on any aircraft type as a co-pilot while authorised for CAT II or CAT III operations; and
(ii) at least 50 hours on the aircraft type with the operator.
6 However, if a pilot does not have the experience mentioned in clause 5, he or she is restricted to:
(a) for take-off — a cross-wind not exceeding 10 knots and a minima of at least 200 m RVR; and
(b) for landing — CAT II minima of 100 feet DH and 450 m RVR in the TDZ.
Recency
7 For recency, a captain must have completed an autoland using LVO procedures in a flight simulator or in the aircraft type within the 90 days before conducting a CAT II landing.
8 A captain must not conduct a CAT II landing if he or she has lost recency and not regained it in accordance with clause 9.
9 A captain regains recency by performing an autoland:
(a) in a flight simulator; or
(b) in an aircraft in at least CAT I conditions.
Competency
10 For competency, each pilot of the aircraft must have successfully completed, to the operator’s operational and meteorological limits, a flight simulator competency check that includes:
(i) a take-off with a near V1 engine failure (reject) and a V1 engine failure (continue); and
(ii) a CAT II go-around; and
(iii) a CAT II landing.
11 Unless otherwise approved in writing by CASA, each pilot must demonstrate competency in LVO at least twice in every 12 months but not more than 7 months and not less than 5 months may elapse between demonstrations.
12 Each pilot of the aircraft must demonstrate competency to an operational check captain of the aircraft type, at least once every 12 months.
13 A captain may not operate in LVO from the RH seat unless he or she has demonstrated competency in LVO from both LH and RH seats.
Operational restrictions
Take-offs and landings
14 For take-off and landing, the following restrictions apply:
(a) for minima — the pilot in command of the aircraft must use the most restrictive of the following:
(i) the minima approved in the aircraft flight manual (as amended);
(ii) the minima mentioned in Schedule 1 that apply to the type of operation or procedure in which the aircraft is engaged;
(iii) the minima shown on the operator’s aerodrome chart used for take-off or approach and landing;
(iv) the minima approved by the relevant foreign aviation regulatory authority;
(b) the maximum cross-wind component for an aircraft conducting LVO operations is:
(i) if any RVR is less than 200 m — 10 knots; or
(ii) otherwise — 15 knots;
(c) the pilot flying must:
(i) be a captain with the operator; and
(ii) not be undergoing initial command training with the operator; and
(iii) occupy the LH seat;
(d) an abbreviated check list must include all relevant information for:
(i) briefing on low visibility take-offs and landings; and
(ii) identifying the aircraft equipment necessary for carrying out the LVO;
(e) the approach, runway, taxiway and ramp lighting must be operating in accordance with the aerodrome lighting requirements for the type of operation.
Take-offs
15 For take-offs, the operator’s operations manual must contain a standard procedure call for the pilot monitoring to advise the pilot flying of deviations from the runway centreline.
Landings
16 For landings, the following approach ban rules apply:
(a) when making an approach, the pilot in command of the aircraft must not continue beyond 1 000 feet above aerodrome elevation if a controlling zone RVR is reported by ATC as continually less than the specified minimum for the approach;
(b) if, after passing 1 000 feet above aerodrome elevation, a controlling zone RVR is reported by ATC as falling below the specified minimum, the approach may be continued to the minima.
17 For CAT II landings, the pilot in command of the aircraft must not continue an approach below the applicable minima unless visual reference is established and maintained in accordance with at least:
(a) 3 consecutive longitudinally aligned lights, being the centreline of the approach lights, the touchdown zone lights, or the runway lights; and
(b) a lateral element of lighting, being an approach lighting crossbar, landing threshold or a barrette of touchdown lighting.
18 For landings, the braking action on the runway must not be reported by ATC as worse than “medium”.
19 The landing distance available for the aircraft must be the greater of:
(a) 2 200 m; or
(b) 1.15 times the landing distance required under subsection 11 of Civil Aviation Order 20.7.1B.
20 For a CAT II landing, until visual conditions are established, the aircraft must have at least a fail-passive automatic landing system.
Maintenance
21 The aircraft equipment required for an LVO take-off or a CAT II landing must be maintained in accordance with the Aircraft Maintenance Planning Document.
Foreign approvals
22 An LVO may be conducted at an aerodrome outside Australia only if each of the following has been complied with:
(a) the operator has:
(i) informed CASA that for landing operations, the aerodrome and runway terrain details and charts, including the data used to determine the applicable minima, have been checked; and
(i) received approval to conduct the operation from the relevant foreign aviation regulatory authority; and
(iii) given CASA a copy of the approval; and
(b) the LVO is conducted in accordance with each of the operator’s relevant foreign aviation regulatory authority approvals.
Document and procedure requirements
23 The following must be contained in the operations manual carried on board the aircraft:
(a) a copy of this instrument;
(b) a list of aerodromes and runways approved for LVO take-off and CAT II landings (the list);
(c) the minima for the approved aerodromes and runways in the list.
24 The operator’s procedures for LVO must be in accordance with:
(a) this instrument; and
(b) where applicable — the operator’s Safety Operational Specification – Approval to Conduct Autolands instrument, issued by CASA.
Annex A — LVO training requirements
This is a sample training course syllabus as mentioned in clause 3 of Schedule 2.
(a) Ground training
Ground training must cover at least the following subjects:
· general concepts and appropriate definitions (see ICAO Manual of All Weather Operations Doc 9365-AN/910);
· aerodrome visual aids, markings and lighting systems;
· use and limitations of different types of RVR systems;
· ILS characteristics, limitations and Class of Performance classification (see ICAO Annex 10 attachment “C” 2.14);
· the principles of obstacle clearance requirements; factors affecting the determination of minima;
· effect of terrain profiles on radio altimeter readings at DH and on the autoland system;
· characteristics of fog – homogenous and non-homogenous;
· effects of cold temperature on the barometric altimeter’s reading for the glide slope check;
· effects of precipitation, ice accretion, low level windshear and turbulence;
· actions to be taken in the event of airborne or ground equipment failures;
· reversionary minima;
· an understanding of any special aircraft maintenance requirements for LVO equipment;
· correct seating and eye position.
(b) Flight simulator training
The session should be approximately 3 hours for a captain paired with a first officer or 4 hours for 2 paired captains. The session should be a stand-alone exercise conducted after all endorsement training has been completed. The simulator must be at least level C and type specific with correct visual modelling.
Most exercises should be conducted at maximum take-off and landing weights at approved (or applied for) RVR minima with up to maximum cross-wind and where possible a mix of day and night environment.
Training must include:
· normal operation with no failures;
· visual cues required for landings;
· checks of satisfactory functioning of ground and aircraft equipment;
· correct use of MEL and the effect of known unserviceabilities;
· effects on minima caused by changes in the status of ground installations;
· correct monitoring of automatic flight control systems and annunciators;
· any reduced operating limitations;
· maximum deviation allowed for glide slope and localizer;
· actions to be taken in the event of failures or malfunctions of:
- ILS transmitter, ILS receiver(s);
- radio altimeter(s);
- autopilot(s) and autothrust system;
- engine, electrical, hydraulic, flight control and instrumentation systems;
- autoland system indicated by lack of expected FMA annunciations (flare, rollout);
· engine-out autoland and engine-out missed approach;
· loss of visibility during take-off and below the minima during approach;
· pilot incapacitation during take-off and approach;
· fail-passive automatic landing approach with further system failure below the minima.
Taxi exercise
Use of the aerodrome chart in following cleared taxi route to and from the runway and the terminal, identifying stop bars and CAT II holding points and using all options to check line up on the correct runway.
Take-off exercises
There must be a minimum of 8 take-offs resulting in becoming airborne or in a RTO, covering the suggested exercises below. Additional exercises should be conducted to cover operator requirements and the above training requirements.
Instructors should demonstrate in visual conditions the effectiveness of the localizer display or other lateral guidance equipment, as the aircraft deviates from the runway centreline.
Some suggested exercises are:
· normal take-offs (2) (RVR 200 m, X/wind 15 kts – RVR 150 m,
X/wind 10 kts);
· engine failure near V1 (RTO) and engine failure at V1 (continue);
· loss of visibility at low speed (RTO) and after100 kts (continue);
· pilot (PF) incapacitation;
· deliberate runway centreline deviation.
Approach and landing, and go-around exercises
There must be a minimum of 8 approaches from at least 1 500 feet to either a landing or a go-around. However, additional exercises should be conducted to cover operator requirements and the training requirements mentioned above.
Instructors should demonstrate in the simulator the approach (Calvert and ALSF-2) and runway lighting and various visual segments that will permit a landing relating to CAT II, prior to students commencing LV landing exercises.
Instructors should provide varying RVR reports to the crew during some of the simulator exercises to ensure a correct understanding of approach bans.
Some suggested exercises are:
· CAT II (normal) approaches, transitioning to visual flight and landing;
· CAT II (normal) approaches resulting in missed approaches due to either lack of visual reference at DH or loss of visibility below DH;
· engine failure at various stages of the approach and during the missed approach;
· CAT II (fail-passive) approach with autopilot downgrade below minima (manual flare or go-around);
· pilot (PF) incapacitation.
