JAR-OPS 1 & JAR-OPS 3

JAR-OPS 1 (Aeroplane)
GENERAL
The following is an excerpt based on JAR-OPS 1 Subpart D and E. The excerpt does not include all the rules used to
determine Aerodrome Operating Minima (AOM) according to JAR-OPS, but shows the applicable tables. The JAR-
OPS rules have been adopted by the Committee of Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) on 28 March 1995 and are still
used in some countries, even the JAA do not exist any longer.

MET VISIBILITY/RVR CONVERSION

JAR-OPS AOM are generally expressed in RVR. If only meteorological visibility is reported, the charted RVR value can
be substituted by reported meteorological VIS for straight-in instrument approaches as shown in Table 1.

Note: Table 1 shall not be applied for calculating Take-off or Category II/III minimums or when a reported RVR is
available.

TAKE-OFF MINIMUMS
a. For multi-engine aircraft, whose performance is such that in the event of a critical power unit failure at any
point during take-off the aircraft can either stop or continue the take-off to a height of 1500ft above the
aerodrome while clearing all obstacles by the required margins, the take-off minimums established by an
operator must be expressed as RVR/VIS values not lower than those in Table 2 below.

b. For multi-engine aircraft whose performance is such that they cannot comply with the performance
conditions specified in paragraph a. above in the event of a critical power unit failure, there may be a need
to re-land immediately and to see and avoid obstacles in the take-off area. Such aircraft may be operated
to take-off minimums shown in Table 3. The take-off minimums established by an operator must be based
upon the height from which the one engine inoperative net take-off flight path can be constructed. The
RVR/VIS minimums used may not be lower than either those specified in Table 2 or 3.
LOW VISIBILITY TAKE-OFF
A take-off on a runway where the RVR is less than 400m. An operator shall:
- Verify that Low Visibility Procedures have been established and are in force where low visibility operation
are to be conducted.
- Establish procedures and instructions for Low Visibility Take-off operations.

Subject to the approval of the Authority, and provided the requirements in paragraphs a to e below have been
satisfied, an operator may reduce the take-off minimums shown in Table 2 for CAT A, B & C aircraft to RVR 125m
and for CAT D aircraft to RVR 150m when:
a. low Visibility Procedures are in force;
b. high intensity CL spaced 15m or less and HIRL spaced 60m or less are in operation;
c. crews have satisfactorily completed training in a simulator approved for this procedure;
d. a 90m visual segment is available from the cockpit at the start of the take-off run;
e. the required RVR value has been achieved for all of the relevant RVR reporting points.

USING AN APPROVED LATERAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM

Subject to approval of the Authority, an operator of an aircraft using an approved lateral guidance system may
reduce the take-off minimums shown in Table 2 for CAT A, B & C aircraft to less than RVR 125m and for CAT D
aircraft to less than RVR 150m; but not lower than RVR 75m provided runway protection and facilities equivalent to
Category III landing operations are available.
CIRCLE-TO-LAND MINIMUMS
An operator must ensure that the MDH and visibility for the aircraft category concerned is not below the values
shown in Table 4 below and any existing State minimum.

VISUAL APPROACH
An operator shall not use a RVR of less than 800m for a visual approach.

NON-PRECISION APPROACH MINIMUMS

An operator must ensure that the MDH for a non-precision approach is not below the OCH/OCL for the category of
aircraft or the MDH values given in Table 5.

The lowest possible RVR (if no higher State minimum exist) to be used by an operator for non-precision approaches
is shown in Table 6 below. The table is only applicable to conventional approaches with a nominal descent slope of
not greater than 4 degrees (7.0%). Greater descent slopes will usually require that visual glide slope guidance (e.g.,
PAPI) is also visible at the MDH. The figures may be either reported RVR or meteorological VIS converted to RVR.

NOTE: The MDH in Table 6 refers to the initial calculation of MDH. When selecting the associated RVR, there is no
need to take account of a rounding up to the nearest 10ft, which may be done for operational purposes, e.g.,
conversion to MDA.
PRECISION APPROACH (CAT I) MINIMUMS
A CAT I operation is a precision approach and landing using an ILS, MLS or PAR with a DH not lower than 200ft and
with a RVR not less than 550m.

The lowest possible RVR (if no higher State minimum exist) to be used by an operator for a CAT I approach is shown
in Table 7 below. The table is only applicable to conventional approaches with a glide slope angle up to and including
4 degrees. The figures may be either reported RVR or meteorological VIS converted to RVR.

NOTE: The DH in Table 7 refers to the initial calculation of a DH. When selecting the associated RVR, there is no need
to take account of a rounding up to the nearest 10ft, which may be done for operational purposes, e.g., conversion
to DA.
PRECISION APPROACH (CAT II) MINIMUMS
A CAT II operation is a precision instrument approach and landing using an ILS or MLS with a decision height below
200ft but not lower than 100ft, and a minimum RVR of 300m.

The lowest possible RVR (if no higher State minimum exist) to be used by an operator for CAT II approaches is shown
in Table 8 below.
PRECISION APPROACH (CAT III) MINIMUMS
NOTE: Where the DH and RVR do not fall within the same category, the RVR will determine in which category the
operation is to be considered.

PLANNING MINIMUMS (IFR Flights)

EFFECT ON AOM OF TEMPORARILY FAILED OR DOWNGRADED GROUND EQUIPMENT
These procedures/instructions are applicable for both pre-flight and in flight situations.
It is not expected that the commander consults these instructions after passing the OM or an equivalent position.
If failure of ground equipment, other than the primary approach aid in use, occurs at such a late stage, the approach
may be continued at commander’s discretion.

If failures are known before this stage, the effect on the approach must be considered by using the following table;
that means, minimums must be increased and/or relevant procedures must be used.
 JAR-OPS 3 (Helicopter)
TAKE-OFF MINIMUMS
Table – RVR/VIS for take-off

Onshore heliports with IFR departure procedure RVR/VIS

250m or the rejected take-off distance,
No lighting and no markings (Day)
whichever is greater
No markings (night) 800m
Runway edge/FATO lighting and centerline marking 200m
Runway edge/FATO lighting, centerline marking and RVR
150m
information
Offshore Helideck
Two pilot operations 250m (1)
Single pilot operations 500m (1)
(1) The commander must establish that the take-off flight path is free of obstacles.

CIRCLE-TO-LAND MINIMUMS
For circling the specified MDH shall not be less than 250ft and the meteorological visibility shall not be less than
800m. This includes also Visual manoeuvering (circling) with prescribed flight tracks.

An operator shall not use an RVR of less than 800m for a visual approach.

Lighting
Full facilities comprise FATO/runway markings, 720m or more of HI/MI approach lights, FATO/runway edge lights,
threshold lights and FATO/runway end lights. Lights must be on.

Intermediate facilities comprise FATO/runway markings, 420 - 719m of HI/MI approach lights, FATO/runway edge
lights, threshold lights and FATO/runway end lights. Lights must be on.

Basic facilities comprise FATO/runway markings, <420m of HI/MI approach lights or any length of LI approach lights,
FATO/runway edge lights, threshold lights and FATO/runway end lights. Lights must be on.

Nil approach lights facilities comprise FATO/runway markings, FATO/runway edge lights, threshold lights,
FATO/runway end lights or lights at all.
NON-PRECISION APPROACH MINIMUMS

Table – Onshore non-precision approach minima

Intermediate
Full Facilities Basic Facilities Nil
MDH (ft) Facilities
RVR (m) RVR (m) RVR (m)
RVR (m)
250 - 299 600 800 1000 1000
300 - 449 800 1000 1000 1000
450 and above 1000 1000 1000 1000

The above figures are either reported RVR or meteorological visibility converted to an RVR. The MDH refers to the
initial calculation of MDH. There is no need to take account of rounding.

PRECISION APPROACH (CAT I) MINIMUMS

Table – Onshore Precision Approach Minima Category I

Intermediate
Full Facilities Basic Facilities Nil
DH (ft) Facilities
RVR (m) RVR (m) RVR (m)
RVR (m)
200 500 600 700 1000
201 – 250 550 650 750 1000
251 - 300 600 700 800 1000
301 and above 750 800 900 1000

The above figures are either reported RVR or meteorological visibility converted to an RVR. The DH refers to the
initial calculation of DH. There is no need to take account of rounding.
PRECISION APPROACH (CAT II) MINIMUMS

Auto-coupled to below DH
Decision height (ft)
RVR (m)
100 – 120 300
121 – 140 400
141 and above 450

PLANNING MINIMUMS

Type of Approach Planning Minima

CAT II and III CAT I RVR
DH plus 200ft
CAT I
RVR/VIS plus 400m
MDH plus 200ft
Non-precision RVR/VIS plus 400m
Ceiling at or above MDH