Visibility minima on AAI supplied charts in India
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Visibility minima on AAI supplied charts in India
The AAI provides approach charts on the Indian eAIP site. These are free to access, unlike the Jeppesen, for which one has to have a subscription. While these charts are self-explanatory, I cannot find the visibility minima on them anywhere. Is anybody aware where the visibility minima for Indian airports is published? I am sure Jeppesen only compiles information from various sources and presents it in an easy-to-use format. I am attaching the chart for VABP (Bhopal) as an example.
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I'm not Indian or have ever flown there, but do they use some kind of standards for minimums if it's not indicated otherwise. If so it may be in AIP, I guess. Just a thought.
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After taking a look at the AIP it looks like they use a term called "Aerodrome Operating Minima" and it is published most other approaches I looked at. Such as this one:
https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip/PUB/...dex-en-GB.html
https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip/PUB/...dex-en-GB.html
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I wrote to the AAI too, and they have intimated that as per the CAR on All Weather Operations, the Operator has to set their visibility minima, which must be approved by the DGCA. I checked from an IndiGo pilot, who confirmed that this is indeed the case.
That will work for scheduled operators, who operate all over the country or even non-scheduled aeroplane operators. But this wouldn't work for helicopter operators, who fly IFR only once in while and that could be anywhere in the country!
So now my next question: Jeppesen shows a visibility minima on the charts that we (I fly with a non-scheduled operator) follow. Where does Jeppesen derive this minima from? And how does it become legal, since it is not expressly approved for us?
That will work for scheduled operators, who operate all over the country or even non-scheduled aeroplane operators. But this wouldn't work for helicopter operators, who fly IFR only once in while and that could be anywhere in the country!
So now my next question: Jeppesen shows a visibility minima on the charts that we (I fly with a non-scheduled operator) follow. Where does Jeppesen derive this minima from? And how does it become legal, since it is not expressly approved for us?
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I looked at AIP again and find the charts for the the airport you mentioned. In that chart, they HAVE visibility minimums. Here is the link:
https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip/PUB/...dex-en-GB.html
But it is dated back to 2012. I wouldn't use it before confirming it's still valid.
https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip/PUB/...dex-en-GB.html
But it is dated back to 2012. I wouldn't use it before confirming it's still valid.
Last edited by derdere; 12th Sep 2022 at 18:07.
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Yes; the AIP of 2012 must be showing visibility minima. The CAR on All Weather Operations of 2017 specifies that operators have to get their method of calculating visibility minima approved by DGCA, and so AAI's ATM Circular 5/2017 says that since DGCA has put the onus on operators, the system of giving visibility minimas on IAP charts is being dispensed with.
On a side note, I wrote to AAI suggesting they stop hosting the outdated AIPs, since not only is there scope for confusion, hosting it must also be costing some money. They wrote back saying you must access the correct website using the correct address https://aim-india.aai.aero to get correct and updated information.
On a side note, I wrote to AAI suggesting they stop hosting the outdated AIPs, since not only is there scope for confusion, hosting it must also be costing some money. They wrote back saying you must access the correct website using the correct address https://aim-india.aai.aero to get correct and updated information.
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I don't know if India is a member of ICAO, but if that's the case, then according to ICAO, member country/gov is responsible to publish/update necessary aviation products to support the safe air operations. And that should be the case even if it was not a ICAO member.
https://aim-india.aai.aero/eaip-india-ver-2-0
avoid AIP v1 which is the one dating back to 2012! V2 of the hosting has the current airac on.
avoid AIP v1 which is the one dating back to 2012! V2 of the hosting has the current airac on.
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Ah! So I have finally understood the story it seems, and this should end this thread.
derdere yes, India is a very large country and a member of ICAO, and the information is available, as I will explain.
The CAR on 'All Weather Operations' (8-C-1) lays down the minima to be adhered to, as a function of the type of approach (Precision/ Non-Precision), the DH/DA specified and the lighting system available. There is a table that lays this down, and the values can easily be extracted from this. While I haven't checked it yet, I am reasonably sure Jeppesen is publishing the visibility minima derived thuswise. Operators are free to have higher minima for their operations, as I understand.
For helicopters, which is my area of interest, the CAR on helicopter operations (8-O-4) provides a similar table in its Appendix A, and the visibility minima can easily be derived for use.
derdere yes, India is a very large country and a member of ICAO, and the information is available, as I will explain.
The CAR on 'All Weather Operations' (8-C-1) lays down the minima to be adhered to, as a function of the type of approach (Precision/ Non-Precision), the DH/DA specified and the lighting system available. There is a table that lays this down, and the values can easily be extracted from this. While I haven't checked it yet, I am reasonably sure Jeppesen is publishing the visibility minima derived thuswise. Operators are free to have higher minima for their operations, as I understand.
For helicopters, which is my area of interest, the CAR on helicopter operations (8-O-4) provides a similar table in its Appendix A, and the visibility minima can easily be derived for use.
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xeopskzu ok, now it makes more sense. I looked at the new website. This new AIP v2 is actually quite good. I'm pretty sure they will improve it more along the way. Hey, we are living another day to learn new stuff, right 
