AMC1 NCO.OP.111 Aerodrome operating minima – NPA, APV, CAT I operations

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 47

Text in magenta in force from 30 October 2025

NPA FLOWN WITH THE CDFA TECHNIQUE

When flying a non-precision approach operation using the CDFA technique, the pilot-in-command should ensure that when executing a missed approach, the initiation of the go-around is done at or above the DA/H to avoid flying below the MDA/H.

The title and text below will replace the title and text above on 30 October 2025:

AMC1 NCO.OP.111 Aerodrome operating minima – 2D and 3D approach operations

DETERMINATION OF DH/MDH FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH OPERATIONS AND RUNWAY

When determining the DH/MDH in accordance with the obstacle clearance hight (OCH) for the category of aircraft and the published approach procedure DH or minimum descent height (MDH), the pilot should determine whether the obstacle limitation surface is appropriate for the type of instrument approach flown and runway as this matter may have an impact on the calculation of the OCH and DH/MDH. When this information is not available (e.g. not mentioned in the AIP, etc.), then the pilot should take into account Table 8 or 9 below, as applicable, when determining the DH/MDH:

Table 8

Runway type minima — aeroplanes

Runway type	Lowest DH/MDH (ft)
PA runway, category I	200
NPA runway	250
Non-instrument runway	Circling minima as shown in Table 1 in NCC.OP.112

 

Table 9

Type of runway/FATO minima — helicopters

Runway type	Lowest DH/MDH (ft)
PA runway, category I	200
NPA runway	200
Non-instrument runway	200
Instrument FATO	200
FATO	250

Table 8 does not apply to helicopter PinS approaches with instructions to ‘proceed VFR’.