FAOOPS
FAOOPS U. S. Department of Transportation Operations Specifications Federal Aviation Form Approved Administration OMB No. 2120-00028 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A - GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/21/94 1. APPLICABILITY 2. DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS 3. GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES 4. TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 5. OPERATION OF U. S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT 6. CURTAILMENT OF PiC PRIVILEGES PART B - ENROUTE AUTHORIZATIONS AND LIMITATIONS 8. AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS WITHIN THE 50 STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 9. AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS IN UNITED STATES AIRSPACE OUTSIDE THE 50 STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 10. SPECIAL PROVISIONS - ALL LARGE AIR CARRIER AIRCRAFT PART C - AIRPORT AUTHORIZATION AND LIMITATIONS 16. GENERAL 17. INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES AND WEATHER MINIMA 18. IFR TAKEOFF MINIMUMS: ALL AIRPORTS 19. AUTHORIZED AIRPORTS 20. USE OF REVERSE THRUST FOR TAXIING PART D - AIRCRAFT RADIO EQUIPMENT 29. GENERAL 30. CONTINUANCE OF FLIGHT 31. REQUIRED AIRCRAFT RADIO EQUIPMENT PART F - CHARTER FLIGHTS OR OTHER SPECIAL SERVICES 50. GENERAL 51. CHARTERED FLIGHTS AND OTHER SPECIAL SERVICES 52. AIRPLANE AUTHORIZATION 53. AREA OF OPERATION AUTHORIZED 54. RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE AUTHORIZATION 55. CONTACT APPROACHES PART G - GROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATIONAL FACILITIES 60. GROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATIONAL FACILITIES FOREIGN FLAG AIR CARRIER ISSUED TO:. PART A - GENERAL 1. Applicability: These Operations Specifications are issued pursuant to Section 129.11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. 2. Definitions and Abbreviations: Unless otherwise specified herein, all words and phrases defined in the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, FARs 1, 71, 73, 75, 91, 93, 95, 97 129 and 171 have the same meaning when used in these Operations Specifications. 3. General Operating and Flight Rules: The air carrier shall comply with the applicable provisions of FAR 91 when operating within the United States. 4. Transportation of Hazardous Materials: The air carrier shall comply with the applicable provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 175, when operating within the United States. 5. Operation of Aircraft: The air carrier shall conduct its operations within the U.S. in accordance with operations specifications issued by the Administrator under this part and in accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices contained in Part I (International Commercial Air Transport ) of Annex 6 (Operation of Aircraft) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Organization. 6. Curtailment of PiC Privileges: The air carrier may not use the services of, nor may any person act as, a pilot in command of any aircraft having a passenger seating configuration of more than 30 seats or payload capacity of more than 7500 pounds (3400 kg) engaged in operations under the authority of these operations specifications, if the 60th birthday of that person has been attained. FOREIGN FLAG AIR CARRIER PART B - EN ROUTE AUTHORIZATIONS AND LIMITATIONS 8. Aircraft Operations Within the 50 States of the United States and the District of Columbia. Except as otherwise specified in paragraph d. below, aircraft are authorized to operate over any of the following routes: a. Any route or route segment established by the FAA or appropriate United States Government Agency. Flights planned and initially released over these routes may be operated within controlled airspace over routings predicated on ATC radar vectoring services. However, ATC may not be able to accommodate requests for such service due to traffic conditions. b. In addition to the routes specified in paragraph a., flights may be planned and operated within controlled airspace over direct and other routes predicated on VOR/VORTAC facilities provided: (1) Such routes lie within the advertised operational service volume or extended service volume of the VOR/VORTAC facilities used; and (2) Operations are conducted at least 2,000' above terrain or at or above the MEA if one is established. c. Routes listed in the FAA Form 8400-1 of these Operations Specifications. Off-airways routes listed in the FAA Form 8400-1 of these Operations Specifications have a width of four (4) nautical miles on each side of the course between the points defining such off-airway routes unless otherwise specified in the applicable FAA Form 8400-1. d. Paragraphs a. thru c. do not apply when it is necessary to avoid potentially hazardous meteorological conditions and when otherwise cleared by Air Traffic Control. 9. Aircraft Operations in United States Airspace Outside the 50 States of the United States and the District of Columbia. Operations shall be conducted over the routes defined in approved Aeronautical Information Publications or over the routes listed in FAA Form 8400- 1 of these Operations Specifications except: a. When it is necessary to avoid potentially hazardous meteorological conditions; or... b. When proceeding to an alternate airport; or ... c. When otherwise cleared by Air Traffic Control. d. Flights planned and initially dispatched over routes listed in approved AIPs or the FAA Form 8400-1 may be operated within the controlled airspace over routings predicated on Air Traffic Control radar vectoring services. 10. Special Provisions - All Large Air Carrier Aircraft. a. Except as provided in subparagraph b. below, during the en-route phase of flight, large aircraft will be operated within the navigable airspace of the United States in accordance with instrument flight rules. However, during the terminal phase of flight, operations may be conducted under visual flight rules provided: (1) The aircraft is being given radar vectors by Air Traffic Control; or... (2) At controlled airports, the pilot is in direct communication with the Control Tower, Approach C Control, or Departure Control, serving the airport of arrival/departure; or ... (3) At uncontrolled airports, the pilot is in direct communication with an air/ground radio communications facility capable of providing airport traffic advisory service. b. Propeller aircraft may be operated under VFR over approved routes or route segments listed on FAA Form 8400-1, provided appropriate weather reports or forecasts, or any combination thereof, at the time of dispatch indicate that the visibility along such route or route segment is and will remain at or above five (5) statute miles. However, for terminal area operations, the VFR takeoff and landing minima prescribed in paragraph c. below for particular airports are applicable. The Administrator approves VFR routes when the Certificate Holder shows that the traffic density along a route or route segment is low and that IFR Operations are impractical due to : (1) Inadequate air/ground ATC communications; or... (2) Inadequate en-route and terminal area navigation facilities; or... (3) High minimum en-route instrument altitudes; or... (4) Other unique conditions, such as circuitous IFR routes between terminals. c. Except as provided in paragraph d. below, regardless of any clearance from ATC, no pilot may takeoff or land an airplane under VFR when the reported ceiling or visibility is less than the following: (1) For Day Operations - 1000-foot ceiling and one-mile visibility. (2) For Night Operations - 1000-foot ceiling and two-mile visibility. d. Where a local surface restriction to visibility exists (e.g., smoke, dust, blowing snow or sand), the visibility for Day and Night Operations may be reduced to 1/2 mile, if ail turns after takeoff and prior to landing, and all flight beyond one (1) mile from the airport boundary can be accomplished above or outside the area of local surface visibility restriction. e. These weather minima do not apply to the VFR operation of fixed-wing aircraft in any Control Zone listed in paragraph 93.1 13 of FAR 93. The basic VFR weather minima in FAR 91, paragraph 91.155, apply at those locations. PART C - AIRPORT AUTHORIZATION AND LIMITATIONS 16. General. Except as provided in Section 18.d. of these Operations Specifications, the air carrier shall not operate aircraft in scheduled operations within the United States using any airport other than those listed in Section 19 except when an emergency exists requiring the use of an airport not listed in Section 19. When such emergency authority has been exercised within the United States, the pilot in command shall submit a written report of the incident within ten (10) days to the Federal Aviation Administration. Unless the instrument approach procedures and the IFR minima for a particular airport are specified in these Operations Specifications, and attached hereto, the term, "instrument approach procedures," when used in these Operations Specifications means the instrument approach procedures and IFR minima prescribed in Part 97 of the Federal Aviation Regulations: 17. Instrument Approach Procedures and Weather Minima. a. Facilities. The air carrier is authorized to utilize the following types of instrument approach procedures: ILS:XVOR:XNDB:XVOR/DME:XPAR:-ASR:-LDA:XSDF:-b. IFR Landing Minima for Straight-in Approaches (other than ILS Category ii or III - All Airports. The straight-in landing minima prescribed in the following tables, as modified by Section 17.f. of these Operations Specifications, are the lowest authorized for use at all airports. However, in no case are minima authorized lower than specified in the applicable instrument approach procedure, except as modified by Section 17.f. NONPRECISION APPROACHESAPPROACH FACILITY: LOC, VOR, LDA, NDB, SDF, ASR or PAR w/o GSAIRCRAFT CATEGORYAPPROACH LIGHT CONFIGURATIONHAT1A-B-CDVIS or RVRVIS or RVR1NO LIGHTS25015000150002ODALS2503/44000150003MALS2503/44000150004SSALS2503/44000150005MALS R2501/2224001350006SSALR2501/2224001350007ALSF-I2501/2224001350008DME ARC any light configuration50015000150001 Add 50 ft. to HAT for VOR without FAF or NDB with FAF. Add 100 ft. to HAT for NDB without FAF.2 For NDB approaches, 3/4 mile or RVR 4000.3 For LOC, 3/4 mile or RVR 4000.PRECISION APPROACHESAPPROACH FACILITY: ILS4 or PARAIRCRAFT CATEGORYAPPROACH LIGHT CONFIGURATIONHATA-B-CDVIS or RVRVIS or RVR9NO LIGHTS2003/440003/4400010MALSR or SSALR or ALSF-I2001/224001/2240011ALSF-I w/TDZ/CLMALSR w/TDZ/CLSSALR w/TDZ/CL200-1800-180054 Full ILS includes LOC, GS, OM (or FAF).5 RVR 1X00 feet authorized only if FAR Part 97 authorizes 1800 feet RVR for Category D. NOTE: Foreign approach light systems equivalent to U. S. Standards are authorized for both precision and nonprecision approaches. c. RNAV Instrument Approaches, Landing minima shall be 200 feet and 1/2 mile above the MDA and visibility minima published on the RNAV standard instrument approach procedure during the initial six (6) months of operations. At the end of that period, the minima published on the standard instrument approach procedure may be approved on a permanent basis if the operational reliability has been satisfactorily demonstrated. d. Special Provisions - Turbojet Aircraft. (1) Pilot Qualifications. Straight-in landing minima of less than 3/4 mile or RVR 4000 are authorized when the air carrier has certified that its pilot training and qualification procedures, airborne equipment installations and operational procedures are consistent with the criteria contained in Advisory Circular 120-29. (2) Operating Limitations. An instrument approach shall not be started in any turbojet aircraft when visibility conditions are reported to be less than 314 mile or RVR 4000 unless: (a) 15% additional runway is available over that which would allow a full stop landing within 60% of the effective length of the runway from a point 50 feet above the intersection of the obstruction clearance plane and the runway. (b) Precision instrument (all weather) runway marking or runway centerline lights are available. e. IFR Landing Minima for Circling Approaches All Airports. AIRCRAFT CATEGORY STANDARD MINIMA (HAA/VIS) (1) Category A 1000-3 (2) Category B 1000-3 (3) Category C 1000-3 (4) Category D 1000-3 f. IFR Landing Minima. Local Conditions - All Airports. Unless prohibited in the applicable instrument approach procedure, a landing may be made at an airport when the local visibility is reduced to not less than 1/2 mile or RVR 2400 feet by purely surface weather conditions such as smoke, haze, dust, ground fog, blowing snow or sand, etc., provided the ceiling is not less than 1000 feet, the aircraft is aligned with the runway of intended landing before entering the local surface visibility conditions, and the runway of intended landing is plainly visible allowing the pilot to have adequate visual reference to the line of forward motion at all times during final approach and landing. g. Contact Approaches. Contact approach is an approach wherein an aircraft on an IFR flight plan, operating clear of clouds with at least one (1) mile flight visibility and having received an Air Traffic Control authorization, may deviate from the prescribed instrument approach procedure and proceed to an airport by visual reference to the surface. Contact approaches will be conducted in accordance with the following conditions and limitations: (1) When a circling approach is required to the runway of intended landing, the reported ceiling and visibility must be equal to or better than the IFR minima prescribed in the applicable instrument approach procedure for circling approaches. (2) When a straight-in approach is contemplated to the runway of intended landing, the reported ceiling must be equal to or better than the MDA prescribed in the applicable instrument approach procedures for a nonprecision (VOR, ASR, NDB, etc.) straight-in approach to such runway. The reported visibility must be at least one (I)mile and in no case less than such higher IFR visibility minimum prescribed in the applicable instrument approach procedure for a non-precision straight-in approach to the runway of intended landing. (3) Descent below MDA not authorized unless runway threshold of intended landing is in view at all times. h. IFR Weather Minima - Alternate Airports. The standard weather minima applicable to alternate airports designated for dispatch or flight release purposes are 600-2 at airports served by precision approach procedures, or 800-2 at airports served by nonprecision approach procedures. However, when an airport is served by two operative navigational facilities, each providing an approved straight-in approach to a suitable but different runway, alternate minima of 200-1/2 above the lower regular airport landing minima of the two approaches, or 400-1 (whichever is higher), are authorized provided appropriate weather reports, or forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that the weather conditions will, at the time the flight arrives at the alternate airport, permit a straight-in instrument approach. i. Instrument Approach Procedure Utilizing Visual Courses of VOR or ILS. No instrument approach procedure shall be commenced using the courses of VOR or ILS unless the airborne radio receiving equipment is provided with an approved device to automatically indicate failure or malfunctioning of the ground facilities or related airborne equipment. j. Limitations on Approaches From Fan Markers. When an instrument approach procedure is authorized from a fan marker, descent below the pertinent altitude specified in the applicable instrument approach procedure shall not be commenced until both aural and visual fan marker signals have been received and identified.. k. Approach and Landing Limitations. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) below, no instrument approach procedure shall be executed or landing made at an airport within the United States when the latest U.S. National Weather Service weather report for that airport indicates the visibility is less than that prescribed by the Administrator for landing at such airport. (2) An instrument approach procedure may be executed when the U.S. National Weather Service report indicates that the visibility is less than the approved minimum for landing, if the airport is served by ILS and PAR in operative condition and both are used by the pilot. Thereafter a landing may be made, if weather conditions equal to or better than the prescribed minima are found to exist by the pilot-in- command upon reaching the authorized MDA or DH. (3) If an instrument approach procedure is initiated when the current U.S. National Weather Service report indicates that the prescribed visibility minima exist and a later weather report indicating below minimum conditions is received after the airplane (1) is on an ILS final approach and has passed the outer marker; or (2) is on a final approach using a radio range station or comparable facility, or a final approach fix, and has passed the appropriate facility, or a final approach fix, and has reached the authorized landing MDA or DH, or (3) is on GCA final approach and has been turned over on the final approach controller, such approach may be continued and a landing made in the event weather conditions equal to or better than the prescribed minima for the airport are found to exist by the pilot-in-command of the flight upon reaching the authorized MDA or DH. l. Restriction or Suspension of Operations. When conditions known to the air carrier exist which constitute a hazard to the conduct of safe operations including airport and runway conditions, the operator shall restrict or suspend operations until such hazardous conditions are corrected. 18. IFR Takeoff Minimums: All Airports. a. Standard. The standard takeoff minimum is one mile for two-engine aircraft and 1/2 mile for three and four engine aircraft. The standard takeoff minimum is authorized for use at all airports unless a higher than standard minimum is specified in the applicable instrument approach procedure. b. Lower than Standard. On runways where standard takeoff minima are authorized, the following minima are also authorized: (1) 1/4 mile or RVR 1600 when any of the following visual aids are available: (a) HIRL; or (b) Runway Centerline Lights; or (c) Runway Centerline Markings; or (d) In unusual circumstances where neither (a), (b) nor(c) above are available, the runway is marked in such a manner that the pilot at all times has visual reference to the line of forward motion during the takeoff run. NOTE: If takeoff is based on RVR, a touchdown transmissometer is required and is controlling. (2) RVR 1200 with RVR 1000 on rollout end provided the runway has: (a) Operative Centerline Lights and (b) Two Operative Transmissometers, either of which is not capable of reading lower than RVR 1000. Both are controlling. (3) RVR 600 with Mid RVR 600 (if operative) and RVR 600 on rollout and provided the runway has: (a) Operative Centerline Lights; (b) Runway Centerline Markings; and (c) Either two or three operative transmissometers capable of reading as low as RVR 600. NOTE: Where only two transmissometers are installed, the touchdown and rollout RVR's are required and are controlling. If three transmissometers are installed, all are controlling and the failure of any one transmissometer will not affect operations provided the remaining two RVR values are at or above appropriate minimums stated in 18.(b) (3) above. TABLE OF OPERATIONALLY EQUIVALENT VALUES The following meters to miles (statute) or feet values are deemed to be equivalent for operational purposes, and are applicable to both takeoff and landing minima: RVRVISIBILITYMETERSFEETMETERSMILES50=150400=114 75=250800=1/2 100=3001200=3/4150=5001600=1175=6002000=1 1/4200=7002400=1 1/2300=10002800=1 3/4350=12003200=2500=16003600=2 1/4550=18004000=2 1/2600=20004400=2 3/4720=24004800=3 1200=40001400=45001500=50001600=52001800=5900c. Alternate Airport for Departure. If the weather conditions at the airport of takeoff are below the landing minima in the certificate holder's operations specifications for that airport, no person may dispatch or release an aircraft from that airport unless:(1) There is provided in the dispatch release an alternate airport located within one hour for two- engine aircraft and two hours for aircraft having three or more engines, from the airport of departure, at normal cruising speed in still air with one engine inoperative; and (2) The ceiling and visibility at such alternate airport at the time of departure are at or above the landing minima authorized for its use as an alternate airport. d. Takeoffs from Unauthorized Airports. No pilot may takeoff an airplane from an airport not listed in these operations specifications unless: (a) The airport and related facilities are adequate for the operation of the airplane; (b) He can comply with the applicable airplane operating limitations; (c) The weather conditions at that airport are equal to or better than the weather minima for takeoff prescribed in Part 97, or where minima are not prescribed for the airport, 800-2, 900-1 1/2 or 1000-1. 19. Authorized Airports. R = Regular RF = Refueling A = Alternate NA = Not Authorized P = Provisional LOCATION TYPE OF AIRCRAFT CHARTER OPERATIONS All U.S. airports as authorized by the carrier's U.S. Department of Transportation Permit or Exemption per Section 402 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 as amended and which the carrier has determined to be operationally suitable and in compliance with FAR 129.13(b) 20. USE OF REVERSE THRUST FOR TAXIING. The use of reverse thrust for rearward taxiing is prohibited except at those airports authorized below: AIRPORTS RESTRICTIONS NOT AUTHORIZED PART D - AIRCRAFT RADIO EQUIPMENT 29. General. The operator shall not dispatch aircraft under the provisions of these operations specifications to or from any airport or landing area within the United States, its territories or possessions, unless there are installed aboard the aircraft, and in satisfactory operating condition, those items of radio equipment listed in Section 3 1 which are required for compliance with Part 129 of the Federal Aviation Regulations for the route or part thereof over which the aircraft is to be flown, and the type of operation to be conducted (IFR or VFR). 30. Continuance of Flight. If any of the required equipment listed in Section 3 1 becomes unserviceable in flight while the aircraft is operating within the United States, its territories or possessions, a landing shall be made either at the nearest suitable landing area or at the next point of intended landing, whichever, in the opinion of the pilot, is the safer procedure. 31. Required Aircraft Radio Equipment Minimum Equipment RequiredFrequency SpecificationsDual VHF Communications Transceivers118.0 to 135.975 MHZ (25 KHZ separation)Dual VHF VOR/ILS Receivers108.00 to 117.95 MHZ (50 KHZ separation)Dual UHF Glide Path Receivers329.15 to 335.00 MHZAutomatic Radio Direction Finder Receiver200 to 415 KHZATC Transponder Modes A, B, C, 4096 Code capability andRx. 1030 MHZTx. 1090 MHZEncoding AltimeterDistance Measuring Equipment (DME)962 to 1213 MHZMarker Beacon75 MHZ32. TCAS (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System) Requirements: After December 30, 1993 the holder of these operations specifications may not operate in the United States a turbine powered airplane that has a maximum passenger seating configuration, excluding any pilot seat, of more than 30 seats unless it complies with the provisions of Advisory Circular AC-120-55A, Appendix 3. PART F - CHARTER FLIGHTS OR OTHER SPECIAL SERVICES 50. General, The term "instrument approach procedures" when used in this Part means the instrument approach procedures and IFR minima prescribed in the Federal Aviation Regulations (Part 97 - Standard Instrument Approach Procedures), except that the IFR minima shall not be less than that shown in Paragraph 51. In the case of U.S. military airports, the instrument approach procedure and IFR minima prescribed or approved by the U.S. military agency operating the airport are applicable. 51. Chartered Flights and Other Special Services. Chartered flights and other special services shall be operated as follows: a. On-route Operations. Operations conducted between regular, refueling, or provisional airports, over routes or route segments authorized for scheduled air carrier operations and listed in Part C of these operations specifications may be operated utilizing the IFR weather minima prescribed in Part C of these operations specifications. b. Off-route Operations. Operations to or from any airport not listed in Part C of these operations specifications as a regular, refueling, or provisional airport or operations over any route or route segment not authorized in these operations specifications for scheduled air carrier operations shall be operated under the rules of Part 129 of the Federal Aviation Regulations and Part F of these operations specifications. (1) Minimum Visibility for Takeoffs. Unless the applicable instrument approach procedure denies a reduction of the standard minima or requires a higher than standard minimum, the takeoff minima shown in Part C, Section 18, of these operations specifications shall apply at all civil and military airports. (2) IFR Landing Minima for Straight-in Approaches (other than ILS Category II or III - All Airports. The minima shall be those shown in Part C, Section 17.b., of these operations specifications. (3) Category II or III Approaches - All Airports. The provisions of Part C of these operations specifications that pertain to Category II or III approaches apply for air carriers authorized Category II and/or Category III approaches. (4) Circling Minima. The circling minima shall be those shown in Part C, Section 17.e., of these operations specifications. (5) Alternate Minima. The alternate minima shall be those shown in Part C, Section 17.h., of these operations specifications. 52. Airplane Authorization Country of Registry 53. Area of Operation Authorized. As specified under En Route Procedures. 54. Runway Visual Range Authorization. The provisions of Part C, Section 17.d., of these operations specifications apply. 55. Contact Approaches. The provisions Of Part C, Section 17.g., of these operations specifications apply. PART G - GROUND RADIO COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATIONAL FACILITIES 60. The carrier shall not operate aircraft within the United States, its territories, or its possessions over a route listed in these Operations Specifications unless the ground communication and radio navigational facilities pertinent to that route are available and in operation.