These regulations come into force on 22 February 2024 and specifically affect the airports of Berlin/Brandenburg, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Erfurt-Weimar, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig/Halle, Munich, Münster/Osnabrück, Nuremberg, Saarbrücken and Stuttgart.
The notice defines „Low Visibility Operations“ (LVO), „Low Visibility Take-Off“ (LVTO), and „Low Visibility Procedures“ (LVP), whereby LVP are already applied at runway visual ranges (RVR) of 600 metres or less.
The main procedures for low visibility operations include categories such as CAT II, CAT III (a/b), LVTO and guided take-off. These procedures are activated when the runway visibility is ≤ 1000 m and/or the main cloud ceiling is ≤ 300 FT. For visibility ≤ 600 m and/or main cloud lower limits < 200 FT, additional measures such as switching on the runway centreline lighting and holding beams are taken.
The notice explains how low visibility procedures are communicated via ATIS, including the availability of CAT II and III approaches as well as LVTO and guided take-off procedures. Specific conditions for conducting guided take-offs in certain RVR conditions are also mentioned.
Particular attention is paid to the protection of ILS signals under CAT I, II, III conditions. It is specified that the critical area of the landing course transmitter must always be kept clear during ILS operations, with certain exceptions for aircraft taxiing through this area. These exceptions do not apply when low visibility procedures are used and the critical area must be clear at the latest when the next approaching aircraft is 4 NM from the touchdown point.
Furthermore, instructions are given for operations with the holding bar switched on, movement guidance on the manoeuvring area and the handling of practice approaches under conditions better than CAT II or CAT III. In addition, the conditions for the downgrading of approach procedures and the use of guided take-off with a runway visual range of more than 125 metres are explained.
Finally, reference is made to the entry into force of the regulation on 22 February 2024, with older announcements being revoked at the same time. Information on legal remedies is also provided, enabling those affected to lodge an objection within one month of notification.
Source references:
NFL (the link requires a subscription to Eisenschmidt)
