Category I/II/III ILS Information (2024)

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The following documents are continually revised and contain multiple sections, to simplify presentation of material. These status lists are available for aviation users in order to denote qualified U.S. airports and runways for Category I (CAT I), Category II (CAT II) and Category III (CAT III) Instrument Landing System (ILS) operations. The lists also contain information for foreign CAT II and CAT III airports and runways approved for U.S. air carriers.

The Restricted U.S. facility list and foreign CAT 2-3 airport list still "require prior Flight Technologies and Procedures Division’s approval" and must be listed on this website before U.S. air carriers can be authorized the operation. Once listed, and upon completion of autoland demonstrations as described in AC 120-118, Principal Operations Inspectors may approve their operator via Operations Specifications, Management Specifications, or Letter of Authorization.

SA CAT I/II and CAT II/III Checklists - Order 8400.13

Order 8400.13F contains the ground equipment requirements for Special Authorization CAT I (SA CAT I) approaches, Special Authorization CAT II (SA CAT II), and Standard CAT II/III approaches. SA CAT II and standard CAT II/III checklists must be completed and submitted to the responsible Flight Standards office to authorize a new SA CAT II or standard CAT II/III procedure at any runway. SA CAT I procedures require Flight Operations Group and the responsible Flight Standards office agreement, and should be submitted to the appropriate flight procedures office.

SA CAT I requires the use of HUD to DH, and is authorized via selectable text in OpSpec/MSpec/LOA C052 (LOA C060 for part 91 operators). SA CAT II requires the use of autoland or HUD to touchdown, and is authorized via selectable text in OpSpec/MSpec/LOA C060. CAT II operations are authorized by OpSpec/MSpec/LOA C060, and standard CAT III operations are authorized via OpSpec/MSpec/LOA C060. Direct all inquiries to the Flight Operations Group at (202) 267-8795.

Last updated: Thursday, December 02, 2021

Category I/II/III ILS Information (2024)

FAQs

Category I/II/III ILS Information? ›

CAT I: The basic form of ILS, requiring a decision height of at least 200 feet and a runway visual range of 550 meters or more. CAT II and CAT III: These offer lower minimums for visibility and decision height, with CAT III allowing for almost zero visibility landings in some cases.

What is a Category 1 2 and 3 aircraft? ›

But what are the categories of aircraft? Category I: Small single engine propeller driven aircraft weighing 12,500 lbs. or less, and all helicopters. Category II: Small twin-engine propeller driven aircraft weighing 12,500 lbs. or less. Category III: All other aircraft.

What is a Category 1 ILS approach? ›

Category I. An ILS approach procedure which provides for approach to a height above touchdown of not less than 200 feet and with runway visual range of not less than 1,800 feet.

What is ILS category 2? ›

Category II ILS Approach (Airport, Aircraft, and Aircrew Certification Required) (Figure 16.1). A Category II ILS approach provides the capability of flying to minima as low as a DH of 100 feet and an RVR of 1200. The DH for a Category II approach is identified by a preselected height on the aircraft radar altimeter.

What is the difference between cat II and cat III? ›

CAT II weather minima has been established to provide sufficient visual references at DH to permit a manual landing (or a missed approach) to be executed (it does not mean that the landing must be made manually). A CAT III operation is a precision approach at lower than CAT II minima.

What is the difference between cat 1 2 and 3 ILS? ›

CAT I: The basic form of ILS, requiring a decision height of at least 200 feet and a runway visual range of 550 meters or more. CAT II and CAT III: These offer lower minimums for visibility and decision height, with CAT III allowing for almost zero visibility landings in some cases.

What are the limits of ILS Cat 1? ›

Visibility minimums of 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) (runway visual range of 2,400 feet (730 m)) are possible with a CAT I ILS approach supported by a 1,400-to-3,000-foot-long (430 to 910 m) ALS, and 3⁄8 mile (600 m) visibility 1,800-foot (550 m) visual range is possible if the runway has high-intensity edge lights, touchdown ...

What is the minimum RVR for Cat 1 ILS? ›

The Runway Visual Range (RVR) for Category I operations are between 550 metres (1800 feet) and 800 metres (2600 feet) for ICAO and FAA, depending on the conditions of the approach and equipment.

What is required to fly a cat II ILS approach? ›

The minimum for ILS approaches to CAT II runways is 100 feet DH/RVR 1200, regardless of published lower minimums. Passengers or property cannot be carried for compensation or hire. The LOA requires an operational check of the ILS equipment within the last 15 flight hours and 15 calendar days before flight.

What is cat 1 and cat 2? ›

CAT I describes secondary circuits not intended to be connected to the mains electricity supply, such as electronics, including a typical laptop PC, and circuits powered by regulated low voltage sources. CAT II is defined as local-level electrical distribution, such as a standard mains socket and plug-in loads.

What is Category 2 FAA? ›

If the CAA does not meet standards, FAA gives that CAA a Category 2 rating. Category 2 means the air carriers from the assessed state cannot initiate new service and are restricted to current levels of any existing service to the United States while corrective actions are underway.

What is the difference between Class 1 and Class 2 NOTAMs? ›

Class I NOTAMs ( ICAO ): NOTAMs distributed by means of telecommunication. Class II NOTAMs ( ICAO ) or Published NOTAMs : NOTAMs distributed by means other than telecommunications. In the United States these NOTAMs are published in the Notices To Airmen Publication ( NTAP ) which is issued every 28 days.

Is cat 3 ILS autoland? ›

Autoland is required for any Category III ILS approach. These approaches have decision heights that are too low for a pilot to safely take control from the autopilot and land the aircraft in the time between reaching decision height and touchdown.

What are the minimums for Cat III landing? ›

A category III A approach is a precision instrument approach and landing with no decision height or a decision height lower than 100ft (30m) and a runway visual range not less than 700ft (200m).

Is Cat 3 better than Cat 2? ›

A CAT II rating is the second lowest rating that a multimeter can be given. CAT II multimeters are approved to handle appliances, portable tools, and other household loads. A CAT III rating is the second highest rating a multimeter can receive. CAT III meters are approved for use on distribution circuits.

What is a Class 3 airplane? ›

(3) Class 3: All-metal construction of small aircraft.

What is a Group 3 aircraft? ›

Group III: 79 feet (24 m) up to but not including 118 feet (36 m) wingspan or tail height from 30 up to but not including 45 feet. Group IV: 118 feet (36 m) up to but not including 171 feet (52 m) wingspan or tail height from 45 up to but not including 60 feet.

What is a Class 3 plane? ›

Class 3 is a size rating for airports and planes are the largest and most expensive planes, but can also make the most profit. They can only land in Class 3 airports. Class 3 airports are represented by a red dot ( ). The Tetra-P, a Class 3 plane.

What is a cat II aircraft? ›

Category I (CAT I) Instrument Flight Rules are precision approach runways as defined by FAA and ICAO. Precision Instrument Flight Rules (CAT I) is an operation of precision instrument approach and landing based on the Decision Height (DH) and the Runway Visual Range (RVR).

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