Pilots train for 'blind landings' in smog (China)

[fugesi]

Headline from Beijing-based Global Times

"Pilots flying into Beijing from China's busiest provincial airports will all have to have upgraded qualifications that allow them to land in severe smoggy conditions, known as a "blind landing," from January 1. Zhao Yao, a pilot for Air China, told the Global Times that "blind landing" means being able to land when bad weather compromises the pilot's vision. It means landing with the help of equipment on land and in the aircraft. A beacon is sent from the landing airport to guide the aircraft to follow the correct flight path," he said."

Can anyone explain what this actually means? Are Chinese commercial pilots not Instrument rated?

[bigduke6]

Blind, as in Cat III and landing without seeing the runway.......but in this case, more likely Cat II.

[Oceanic815Pilot]

This won't be a problem. My training records showed I was CATII/III qualified in China yet I never received any sim training and the airlines ops specs prohibited these approaches. I suspect any airline that needs this certification will miraculously have every pilot trained on Jan. 1st.

[de facto]

May god have their poor soul
They have been lucky so far,so many very close calls..adding cat 3 "training" will definitively increase their chance of sticking one into the ground.
But it goes in line with all the rest in China....pure waste of time and money.

[glideapproach]

No.

"Blind Landing", as used in the context of the article, or more appropriately "Blind Descend" is the direct translation of "盲降“, the chinese term for ILS.

[de facto]

Yes.
ILS to low vis minima CAT2/3

[glideapproach]

Not quite, terminology-wise.

"Blind Landing" is the generic term for "ILS" - all of cat1/2/3. Not quite "blind, as in Cat III....", is my point.

The article however does claims that CAAC is mandating pilots flying from the top-10 airports by pax to Beijing to be at least ILS Cat2 rated. Devil's in the details and perhaps all flight plans originating from these airports would have to be ILS Cat2-able, to be accepted.

[de facto]

Devil's in the details and perhaps all flight plans originating from these airports would have to be ILS Cat2-able, to be accepted.

You obviously have no experience in low vis requirements,IFR flight plans and chinese Ops.

[lifeafteraviation]

I saw this article and chuckled....the pollution can be so bad sometimes it shuts down the airports....they refer to it as "fog."

Can anyone explain what this actually means? Are Chinese commercial pilots not Instrument rated?

Actually, they are, they're just not visual rated!

Kidding aside, they really don't do visual landings except in rare circumstances. They can receive punishments for such "reckless acts."

[RG500]

Up to Dec/2011, only 2 chinese carriers were Cat II certified, Air China and Jade Cargo. After that date, I'm unsure but no chinese carrier was Cat III certified to that date.

[glideapproach]

@de facto

You obviously have no experience in low vis requirements,IFR flight plans and chinese Ops.

You are right - I have little experience with low vis and chinese ops. I understand both the pilots and equipment must be rated and current; And realise (just) that flight plans do not seem to distinguish between the various categories of ILS capability.

Genuinely curious: how can they then ensure that flights from from the 10 airports to BCIA be Cat2+ capable other apply restriction on a per-airline basis?