AMC2 SPA.LVO.120(b) Flight crew competence

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 47

Text in magenta in force from 30 October 2025

INITIAL TRAINING AND CHECKING FOR SA CAT I, CAT II, SA CAT II AND CAT III APPROACH OPERATIONS

Operators should ensure that flight crew members complete the following training and checking before being authorised to conduct SA CAT I, CAT II, SA CAT II and CAT III approach operations unless credits related to training and checking for previous experience on similar aircraft types are defined in the operational suitability data established in accordance with UK Regulation (EU) No 748/2012:

For flight crew members who do not have previous experience of low-visibility approach operations requiring an approval under this Subpart with a UK operator:
1. A course of ground training including at least the following:
  1. characteristics and limitations of different types of approach aids;
  2. characteristics of the visual aids;
  3. characteristics of fog;
  4. operational capabilities and limitations of airborne systems to include symbology used on HUD/HUDLS or equivalent display systems, if appropriate;
  5. effects of precipitation, ice accretion, low-level wind shear and turbulence;
  6. the effect of specific aircraft/system malfunctions;
  7. the use and limitations of RVR assessment systems;
  8. principles of obstacle clearance requirements;
  9. the recognition of failure of ground equipment or in satellite approaches, the loss of signal in space and the action to be taken in the event of such failures;
  10. procedures to be followed and precautions to be taken with regard to surface movement during operations when the RVR is 400 m or less and any additional procedures required for take-off in conditions below 150 m;
  11. the significance of DHs based upon radio altimeters and the effect of terrain profile in the approach area on radio altimeter readings and on automatic approach/landing systems. This applies also to other devices capable of providing equivalent information;
  12. the effect of the pre-threshold terrain and LSAA on airborne landing systems;
  13. the significance of alert height, if applicable, and action in the event of any failure above and below the alert height;
  14. qualification requirements for pilots to obtain and retain approval to conduct LVOs;
  15. the importance of correct seating and eye position; and
  16. the significance of LVPs or equivalent procedures.
2. A course of FSTD training and/or flight training in two phases as follows:
  1. Phase one (LVOs with aircraft and all equipment serviceable) — objectives
    1. understand the operation of equipment required for LVOs;
    2. understand the operating limitations resulting from airworthiness certification;
    3. practise the monitoring of automatic flight control systems and status annunciators;
    4. practise the use of HUD/HUDLS or equivalent display systems, where appropriate;
    5. understand the significance of alert height, if applicable;
    6. become familiar with the maximum lateral and vertical deviation permitted for different types of approach operation;
    7. become familiar with the visual references required at DH;
    8. master the manual aircraft handling relevant to low-visibility approach operations;
    9. practise coordination with other crew members; and
    10. become proficient at procedures for low-visibility approach operations with serviceable equipment.
  2. Phase one of the training should include the following exercises:
    1. the required checks for satisfactory functioning of equipment, both on the ground and in flight;
    2. the use of HUD/HUDLS or equivalent display systems during all phases of flight, if applicable;
    3. approach using the appropriate flight guidance, autopilots, and control systems installed on the aircraft to the appropriate DH and transition to visual flight and landing;
    4. approach with all engines operating using the appropriate flight guidance, autopilots and control systems installed on the aircraft, including HUD/HUDLS or equivalent display systems, down to the appropriate DH followed by a missed approach, all without external visual reference;
    5. where appropriate, approaches using autopilot to provide automatic flare, hover, landing and roll-out; and
    6. where appropriate, approaches using approved HUD/HUDLS or equivalent display system to touchdown.
  3. Phase two (low-visibility approach operations with aircraft and equipment failures and degradations) — objectives
    1. understand the effect of known aircraft unserviceability including use of the MEL;
    2. understand the effect of failed or downgraded equipment on aerodrome operating minima;
    3. understand the actions required in response to failures and changes in the status of automatic flight control/guidance systems including HUD/HUDLS or equivalent display systems;
    4. understand the actions required in response to failures above and below alert height, if applicable;
    5. practise abnormal operations and incapacitation procedures; and
    6. become proficient at dealing with failures and abnormal situations during low-visibility approach operations.
  4. Phase two of the training should include the following exercises:
    1. approaches with engine failures at various stages of the approach;
    2. approaches with critical equipment failures, such as electrical systems, auto-flight systems, ground or airborne approach aids and status monitors;
    3. approaches where failures of auto-flight or flight guidance systems, including HUDLS or equivalent display systems, require either:
      1. reversion to manual control for landing or go-around; or
      2. reversion to manual control or a downgraded automatic mode control for go-around from the DH or below, including those which may result in contact with the runway.
      This should include aircraft handling if, during a CAT III fail-passive approach, a fault causes autopilot to disconnect at or below the DH when the last reported RVR is 300 m or less;
    4. failures of systems that will result in excessive lateral or vertical deviation both above and below the DH in the minimum visual conditions for the operation;
    5. incapacitation procedures appropriate to low-visibility approach operations; and
    6. failures and procedures applicable to the specific aircraft type.
  5. FSTD training should include:
    1. for approaches flown using HUDLS or equivalent display systems, a minimum of eight approaches;
    2. otherwise, a minimum of six approaches.
  6. For aircraft for which no FSTDs representing the specific aircraft are available, operators should ensure that the flight training phase specific to the visual scenarios of low-visibility approach operations is conducted in a specifically approved FSTD. Such training should include a minimum of four approaches. Thereafter, type-specific training should be conducted in the aircraft.
3. A check requiring the completion of at least the following exercises in an aircraft or FSTD:
  1. Low-visibility approaches in simulated instrument flight conditions down to the applicable DH, using the flight guidance system. Standard procedures of crew coordination (task sharing, call-out procedures, mutual surveillance, information exchange and support) should be observed. For CAT III operations, the operator should use an FSTD approved for this purpose.
  2. Go-around after approaches as indicated in (2) at any point between 500 ft above ground level (AGL) and on reaching the DH.
  3. Landing(s) with visual reference established at the DH following an instrument approach. Depending on the specific flight guidance system, an automatic landing should be performed.
4. For operators for which LIFUS is required by Part-ORO, practise in approaches during LIFUS, as follows:
  1. For low-visibility approach operations using a manual landing:
    1. if a HUDLS or equivalent display system is used to touchdown, four landings, or if the training required by (a)(2) was conducted in an FSTD qualified for zero flight-time training (ZFTT), two landings; or
    2. otherwise, three landings, or if the training required by (a)(2) was conducted in an FSTD qualified for ZFTT, one landing;
  2. For low-visibility operations using autoland:
    1. if the training required by (a)(2) was conducted in an FSTD qualified for ZFTT, one landing, or none if the fight crew member successfully completed a type rating based on ZFTT; or
    2. otherwise, two landings.
For flight crew members who have previous experience of low-visibility approach operations requiring an approval under this Subpart with a UK operator, when changing to an aircraft for which a new class or type rating is required, within the same operator:
1. A course of ground training as specified in (a)(1), taking into account the flight crew member’s existing knowledge of low-visibility approach operations.
2. A course of FSTD and/or flight training, as specified in (a)(2) above. If the flight crew member’s previous experience of low-visibility approach operations is on a type where the following were the same or similar:
  1. the technology used in the flight guidance and flight control system;
  2. operating procedures;
  3. handling characteristics; and
  4. the use of HUD/HUDLS or equivalent display systems,
    
    then the flight crew member may complete an abbreviated course of FSTD and/or flight training.
3. An abbreviated course should meet the objectives described in (a)(2), it does not need to include the number of approaches required by (a)(2)(v), but should include at least the following number of landings:
  1. if a HUDLS or an equivalent display system is utilised to touchdown, then four approaches including a landing at the lowest approved RVR and a go-around; or
  2. otherwise, two approaches including a landing at the lowest approved RVR and a go-around.
For flight crew members who have previous experience of low-visibility approach operations requiring an approval under this Subpart with a UK operator, when joining another operator:
1. A course of ground training as specified in (a)(1), taking into account the flight crew member’s existing knowledge of low-visibility approach operations.
2. A course of FSTD and/or flight training as specified in (a)(2) above. If the flight crew member’s previous experience of low-visibility approach operations is on the same aircraft type and variant, or on a different type or variant where the following were the same or similar:
  1. the technology used in the flight guidance and flight control system;
  2. operating procedures;
  3. handling characteristics; and
  4. the use of HUD/HUDLS or equivalent display systems,
  then the flight crew member may complete an abbreviated course of FSTD and/or flight training.
3. Such an abbreviated course should meet the objectives described in (a)(2), it does not need to include the number of approaches required by (a)(2)(v), but should include at least the following number of landings:
  1. if a HUDLS or an equivalent display system is utilised to touchdown, then four approaches including a landing at the lowest approved RVR and a go-around; or
  2. otherwise, two approaches including a landing at the lowest approved RVR and a go-around.
4. Practise in approaches during LIFUS as required by (a)(4) above unless the flight crew member’s previous experience of low-visibility approach operations is on the same aircraft type and variant.
If a flight crew member is authorised to operate as pilot flying and pilot monitoring, the flight crew member should complete at least one approach in the other operating capacity.