GPS Letdowns
Colleagues of mine who operate out of a small airfield near London, are concerned about the number of occasions that they have witnessed civilian operators, both private and public transport categories, in breach of rules concerning flight at night / IMC letdowns / operations in reduced visibility & cloud base.
The most recent example was witnessed after a daylight landing at an airfield with a cloud base of 300ft AGL and 3000m vis. While walking from the pad a twin squirrel conducted a GPS? let down breaking cloud at 300ft & 90 degrees displaced to the runway orientation. (Airfield has no IFR / IMC let down)
Appropriate action in the past has ranged from discussions with the pilot, CHIRP reports, AIRPROX reports and information passed to the CAA.
However concern is growing that this is a widespread practice within the commercial world, due to the commercial pressure to complete the task. Since there is chance of a mid air with other aircraft and one of these flights, they are keen to receive feedback on how widespread this is over the UK?
Also does anyone have specific examples of TCAS assisting in exactly these circumstances?
PS: yes they are allowed to fly with 300' cloudbase.
Last edited by MightyGem; 4th October 2002 at 11:12.