Vis for destinations with no navaids

[Rocket3837]

Helo all,

We sometimes operate to airports where all navaids are u/s and obviously the approach is done visually. what is yr company min vis/cloud base required at destination which you should have prior to departure.

If someone can direct me to JAR or CAA ref covering the above situation.

Thanx

[Pub User]

Thanx

Says it all

[Ralis]

Yep .

[Checkboard]

If there are no instrument approaches at your destination, then you must make your arrival in accordance with Visual Flight Rules:

OPS 1.220 Authorisation of Aerodromes by the operator

An Operator shall only authorise the use of aerodromes that are adequate for the type(s) of aeroplane and operation(s) concerned.


OPS 1.192 Terminology

(a) Adequate Aerodrome. An aerodrome which the operator considers satisfactory, taking account of the applicable performance requirements and runway characteristics; at the expected time of use, the aerodrome will be available and equipped with the necessary ancillary services such as ATC, sufficient lighting, communications, weather reporting, navaids and emergency services.

OPS 1.225 Aerodrome Operating Minima
An operator shall specify aerodrome operating minima, established in accordance with OPS 1.430 [deals with operating minima for aerodromes with instrument approaches] for each departure, destination, or alternate aerodrome authorised to be used with OPS 1.220.

OPS 1.295 Selection of Aerodromes

(c) An operator must select at least one destination alternate for each IFR flight unless:

1. both:

(i) the duration of flight from take off to landing or, in the event of in-flight re-planning, in accordance with OPS 1.255(d), the remaining flight time does not exceed six hours, and

(ii) two separate runways (see OPS 1.192) are available and usable at the destination aerodrome ... and ... the ceiling will be at least 2000 ft ..

(d) An operator must select two destination alternate aerodromes when:

1. The weather reports of forecasts for the destination aerodrome, or any combination thereof, indicate that during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival, the weather conditions will be below the applicable planning minima (see OPS 1.297(b)) ...
Note: OPS 1.297 (b) deals with instrument arrival minima - so you can't meet this requirement at a visual only airfield - hence two alternates are required, if you can't meet the requirements for "no alternate".

Ops 1.465VFR Operating minima (See Appendix 1 to Ops 1.465)
An operator shall ensure that:

1. VFR flights are conducted in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules and in accordance with the Table in Appendix 1 to OPS 1.465


http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv20/Checkboard/Screenshot2012-06-24at102530.png

OPS 1.340 Meteorological Conditions
(d) On a VFR flight a commander shall only commence take-off when the appropriate weather reports of forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that the meteorological conditions along the route or that part of the route to be flown under VFR will, at the appropriate time, be such as to render compliance with these rules possible.


Summary:

Under EU-OPS, if your company is operating to an aerodrome with no instrument approaches, it should have specified planning minima in the manual in accordance with having that destination approved (say, LSALT for the last sector + 500 feet).

When planning to that destination, you need two alternates (with instrument approaches as an alternate may not itself require an alternate) unless you can meet the planning minima for NO alternate (two runways, cloud above 2000 ft etc etc)

In order to descend below the en-route LSALT inbound to the aerodrome you must meet the requirements for visual flight (as per the table - or be under radar vectors, or in an approved holding pattern with a lower holding minima), so the LSALT is effectively your "minima" for considering whether or not you will be successful in approaching the aerodrome.

[Microburst2002]

Hi.

Airspace required visibility for VMC (in the table) is very often confused with aerodrome required visibility and ceiling for VMC.

I don't remember which document, annex or where it is, but aerodrome VMC minima used to be:

Ceiling 1,500 ft
VIS 5,000 m

And then you have special VFR...

[Capn Bloggs]

Nice and simple in Oz Land:

A flight may be planned under the IFR by day to a destination aerodrome which is not served by a radio navigation aid without the requirement to provide for a suitable alternate aerodrome, provided that:
a. not more than SCT cloud is forecast below the final route seg-ment LSALT plus 500FT and forecast visibility at the destination aerodrome is not less than 8KM; and
b. the aircraft can be navigated to the destination aerodrome in accordance with para 19.1.
:ok: