CAT II Procedures

C150J

Well-Known Member
Hi all:


Just wondering what ATC procedures are when it comes to CAT II. For a CAT I approach, there are a variety of minima which correspond to various lighting/equipment outages; we can determine how low we can go per the NOTAMs and our plates. On the other hand, CAT II/III approach plates contain no such information due to the fact that lighting is presumably an integral part of these procedures.

Is there guidance that explicitly states when CAT II procedures are advertised on the ATIS and what checks are accomplished before offering such approaches?

Thanks!
J.
 
On the approach end, we don't have any different procedures. Either you want to shoot the approach or don't. I don't know if you're CATI/II/III and unless you say its below your minimums I don't care. If there was an equipment outage that made at CATII/III ILS unusable, I'd be notified, but I've never been notified and what equipment is required for those approaches is above my pay grade. I was under the assumption that if properly TERPed and authorized, all other equipment required was in the cockpit.

I've never heard of the ILS CATII or III being specifically advertised for that matter.
 
Thanks for the info! Very enlightening - I might be more inclined now to ask about the health of the ALSF-2/touchdown zone/centerline lights in addition to checking NOTAMs.


I've never heard of the ILS CATII or III being specifically advertised for that matter.

I have quite a bit. If the weather's really bad, I've picked up digital ATISs before that advertise that they're only accepting CAT II aircraft.
 
Thanks for the info! Very enlightening - I might be more inclined now to ask about the health of the ALSF-2/touchdown zone/centerline lights in addition to checking NOTAMs.




I have quite a bit. If the weather's really bad, I've picked up digital ATISs before that advertise that they're only accepting CAT II aircraft.

In fairness, I'm just a TRACON guy taking a stab at a mostly tower question, not every controller is as stupid as me on the topic. Besides, at my main airport, failures are of the go big or go home variety. Lost TDZ lights? Nah, all the lights are out. Glide slope INOP? Nope, entire ILS system displaced across several towns due to tornado.

Now you've encouraged me to listen to the ATIS next time we get super low IMC. All I see is the WX protion of the ATIS and generic approach they're advertising on our screen.
 
Where I work there is a very long checklist (several pages) of conditions that must be met in regards to aircraft, approach facilities, and weather. If any of the required conditions are not met then catII is not authorized.
 
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