Mentioned in today's Oz:
Nocookies | The Australian
(Sorry, it might be behind a paywall).
Airlines and airports are set to slash flight delays caused by foggy and rainy weather as the aviation regulator introduces new rules to allow planes to land in low-visibility conditions.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has introduced the new rules as the use of technologies such as heads-up displays and automatic landing systems that allow aerodromes and pilots to cut through low-visibility conditions become more widespread.
From March 3, CASA will introduce two new “special” categories of landing rules that will allow aircraft to land safely in deteriorating and foggy weather conditions.
The new rules will apply to aircraft that possess advanced visual and landing technology systems typically found in larger modern jets such as Boeing’s 737s and Airbus’s A320s.
Runways with Category 2, Category 3 or SA Category 2 precision approach procedures will also be automatically eligible for the new operations.
CASA said the new rules would allow safety standards to be maintained during low visibility landings without the requirement for aerodromes to install additional runway and approach lighting normally required when landing aircraft in fog and heavy rain.
Under current regulations, *pilots are only permitted to land on Category 1 airstrips if they can see the runway from a height of no less than 200ft and a distance of no less than 800m.
If conditions are too poor to get a visual confirmation at those distances, pilots are required to abort the landing, try again or go to another airport. Pilots can also gain landing clearance for a better lit runway if airports possess them.
The new rules will introduce a halfway point between the landing requirements for Category 1 and Category 2 runways and allow pilots to land in poor weather when they can spot landing strips from a height of 150 feet and at a visible range of 450m.
The new rules will also mean airports will not have to spend the millions of dollars required to upgrade runways with new lighting systems to ensure they meet the higher visibility standards needed for landing in poor weather conditions.
Sydney airport, Melbourne airport and the nation’s top two carriers, Qantas and Virgin, welcomed the new standards, saying the rules represented best practice without compromising safety standards.
“Melbourne airport is already certified for low visibility operations for one of our runways and we look forward to implementing the new regulations on our second runway to make Melbourne airport more efficient for airlines and passengers.“ said Melbourne airport spokeswoman Anna *Gillett.
Qantas chief technical pilot Alex Passerini said the airline was delighted with the introduction of the new regulations.
“For customers, it means less chance of diversions due to bad weather and more on time arrivals,” Captain Passerini said.
“And from a business perspective, it increases the efficiency of our aircraft and ensures our schedules stay on track as it will reduce aircraft holding in the air or other delays.”
CASA has estimated the changes could lead to savings of more than $10 million a year for the aviation industry and community as fewer flights are *delayed.