Below Standard Visibility Ops

Question 1

Air Canada crew are certified to conduct below standard minima takeoffs. What are the conditions?

Answer 1

• Four A’s: Airport, Aircrew, Aircraft, Alternate(T/O Altn)
• Assuming PIC has 100 hours PIC at Air Canada pilots may conduct takeoffs as low as the following:
  - Captain: RVR 600; and FO: RVR 1200 or 1/4 mile

All take-offs where the visibility is reported below RVR 1200 or 1/4 mile, but not lower than RVR 600,
are to be conducted by the Captain occupying the left seat or by a left seat qualified FO occupying
the left seat at the Captain’s discretion.

Question 2

Does line indoc hours count towards the 100 PIC requirement for low vis takeoffs?

Answer 2

Yes.
The hours accrued during Line Indoctrination or Line Checking may be counted toward the 100 hour
PIC requirement for Below Standard Take-off Minima if:
a. flight crew member has been employed as a FO at Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge for at
least three years; or
b. The flight crew member has previous Captain experience with Low Visibility operations with
other Canadian Part 705 airlines or equivalent.

Question 3

Can an FO undergoing Captain upgrade training conduct below standard takeoffs?

Answer 3

First Officers in the process of an initial Captain upgrade and previously qualified Captains transitioning to a new aircraft type who have completed Full Flight Simulator training and a PPC, may complete a take-off below Standard Take-off Minima, provided the flight crew member is undergoing training or checking accompanied by an ACP or Training Captain.

Question 4

What crew experience must be met in order to conduct below standard approaches CAT II and III?

Answer 4

All Captains shall meet the following requirements prior to conducting CAT II and CAT III approach
operations:
1. Minimum 300 hours PIC on turbo-jet aircraft; and
2. Minimum 100 hours PIC at Air Canada and/or Air Canada Rouge, and
3. When transitioning to a Captain position from a:
a. FO position at Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, minimum 50 hours on type operating from the left seat following Line Operation Evaluation (LOE) or PPC; or
b. RP position at Air Canada or Air Canada Rouge, minimum 100 hours on type operating from the left seat following LOE or PPC; and
4. Flight crew members may reduce turbo-jet PIC requirement in item 1 above by the number of hours acquired during Line Indoctrination and Line Checking if:
a. The flight crew member has been employed for more than three years at Air Canada and/or Air Canada Rouge; or
b. The flight crew member has previously been qualified to conduct Category II/III operations as Pilot-in-Command at a Canadian Airline Operation (CARs 705 operations) or foreign equivalent. First Officers, in the process of an initial Captain upgrade, and previously qualified Captains transitioning to a new aircraft type, who have completed the QC PPC, may complete an approach with less than the flying
times specified above provided the candidate is undergoing training or checking accompanied by a Training Captain or ACP

Question 5

What are the runway lighting and equipment requirements for takeoff in RVR 600 vs RVR 1200, in Canada?

Answer 5

600: OPERATIVE High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL), and centreline lighting (CL), and centre line markings(RCLM) visible to PIC

1200: OPERATIVE HIRL, or centreline lights, or centre line marking visible to PIC.

For RVR 600:
Two transmissometers, one situated at the
approach end (touchdown, RVR A), and one
situated at the mid-point (RVR B) reading not
less than RVR 600

Question 6

If reported visibility has fallen below the minimum for your approach, what is the farthest along the approach you can proceed?

Answer 6

Should the requirements not be fully met once the aircraft is at or inside the FAF, the Flight Crew shall discontinue the approach and initiate the applicable Go-Around procedure.