AMC2 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 47

Text in magenta in force from 30 October 2025

RVR OR VIS FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH OPERATIONS — DETERMINATION OF DH/MDH FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH OPERATIONS — AEROPLANES

  1. The RVR (or for non-instrument runways, VIS) for straight-in instrument approach operations should not be less than the greatest of the following:

    1. the minimum RVR (or for non-instrument runways, VIS) for the type of runway used according to Table 1;

    2. the minimum RVR determined according to the MDH or DH and class of lighting facility according to Table 2;

    3. the minimum RVR according to the visual and non-visual aids and on-board equipment used according to Table 3.

  2. For Category A and B aeroplanes, if the RVR determined in accordance with (a) is greater than 1 500 m, then 1 500 m should be used.

  3. The visual aids, if available, may comprise standard runway day markings, runway edge lights, threshold lights, runway end lights and approach lights as defined in Table 6.

  4. For night operations or for any operation where credit for visual aids is required, the lights should be on and serviceable except as provided for in GM5 NCO.OP.110.

Table 1

Type of runway versus minimum RVR or VIS — aeroplanes

Type of runway

Minimum RVR or VIS (m)

Precision approach (PA) runway, category I

550

Non-precision approach (NPA) runway

750

Non-instrument runway

Visibility according to Table 1 in NCO.OP.112 (Circling minima)

Table 2

RVR versus DH/MDH

DH or MDH

Class of lighting facility

FALS

IALS

BALS

NALS

ft

RVR (m)

200

-

210

550

750

1 000

1 200

211

-

240

550

800

1 000

1 200

241

-

250

550

800

1 000

1 300

251

-

260

600

800

1 100

1 300

261

-

280

600

900

1 100

1 300

281

-

300

650

900

1 200

1 400

301

-

320

700

1 000

1 200

1 400

321

-

340

800

1 100

1 300

1 500

341

-

360

900

1 200

1 400

1 600

361

-

380

1 000

1 300

1 500

1 700

381

-

400

1 100

1 400

1 600

1 800

401

-

420

1 200

1 500

1 700

1 900

421

-

440

1 300

1 600

1 800

2 000

441

-

460

1 400

1 700

1 900

2 100

461

-

480

1 500

1 800

2 000

2 200

481

-

500

1 500

1 800

2 100

2 300

501

-

520

1 600

1 900

2 100

2 400

521

-

540

1 700

2 000

2 200

2 400

541

-

560

1 800

2 100

2 300

2 400

561

-

580

1 900

2 200

2 400

2 400

581

-

600

2 000

2 300

2 400

2 400

601

-

620

2 100

2 400

2 400

2 400

621

-

640

2 200

2 400

2 400

2 400

641

-

660

2 300

2 400

2 400

2 400

661

and above

2 400

2 400

2 400

2 400

Table 3

Visual and non-visual aids and/or on-board equipment versus minimum RVR — aeroplanes

Type of approach

Facilities

Lowest RVR (m)

PA and APV procedure

RTZL and RCLL

[no limitation]

without RTZL and RCLL but using HUDLS or equivalent system; coupled autopilot or flight director to DH

[no limitation]

No RTZL and RCLL, not using HUDLS or equivalent system or autopilot to DH.

750

NPA procedure

Final approach track offset <15° for category A and B aeroplanes or <5°for Category C and D aeroplanes

750

Final approach track offset ≥ 15° for category A or B aeroplanes

1 000

Final approach track offset ≥ 5° for category C or D aeroplanes

1 200

DETERMINATION OF RVR FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH OPERATIONS — HELICOPTERS

  1. For IFR operations, the RVR should not be less than the greatest of the following:

    1. the minimum RVR for the type of runway/FATO used according to Table 4; or

    2. the minimum RVR determined according to the MDH or DH and class of lighting facility according to Table 5;

    3. for PinS operations with instructions to ‘proceed visually’, the distance between the MAPt of the PinS and the FATO/approach light system.

  2. For PinS operations with instructions to ‘proceed VFR’, the VIS should be compatible with visual flight rules.

  3. The visual aids, if available, may comprise standard runway day markings, runway edge lights, threshold lights, runway end lights and approach lights as defined in Table 6.

  4. For night operations or for any operation where credit for visual aids is required, the lights should be on and serviceable.

Table 4

Type of runway/FATO versus minimum RVR — helicopters

Type of runway/FATO

Minimum RVR or VIS (m)

PA runway, category I RVR 550
NPA runway RVR 550

Non-instrument runway

RVR 550

Instrument FATO

RVR 550

FATO

RVR or VIS 800

Table 5

DH/MDH versus minimum RVR — helicopters

DH/MDH (ft)

Facilities versus RVR (m)*

FALS

IALS

BALS

NALS

200

550

600

700

1 000

201–249

550

650

750

1 000

250–299

600*

700*

800

1 000

300 and above

750*

800

900

1 000

*Minima on 2D approach operations should be no lower than 800 m.

APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEMS — AEROPLANES AND HELICOPTERS

Table 6

Approach lighting systems

Class of lighting facility

Length, configuration and intensity of approach lights

FALS

CAT I lighting system (HIALS ≥720 m) distance coded centre line, barrette centre line

IALS

Simple approach lighting system (HIALS 420–719 m) single source, barrette

BALS

Any other approach lighting system (HIALS, MALS or ALS 210–419 m)

NALS

Any other approach lighting system (HIALS, MALS or ALS <210 m) or no approach lights