Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

3 Answers

ILS Categories

Asked by: 5750 views Instrument Rating

The lowest authorized ILS minimums, with all required ground and airborne systems components operative started with Category I, which has Decision Height (DH) of 200 feet and Runway Visual Range (RVR) 2,400 feet.

The (DH) on ILS RWY 31 at ST. AUGUSTINE is 258 which is above 200 feet and Vis of ¾ s.m (RVR) 4000 feet. In that case, what is the category for this ILS approach?

Thank You  

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    John D Collins on Nov 24, 2013

    There are three categories for precision approaches, Category I, II, and III with some subdivisions. Category I precision approaches have a DH of 200 feet or higher and a visibility requirement as low as 1800 RVR if the runway meets certain conditions. The most common Category I minimums have a DH of 200 feet and 1/2 mile visibility (RVR 2400). The ILS or LOC/DME RWY 31 at St Augustine is a category I approach. It has a higher DH because of obstacle issues and a higher visibility requirement because it lacks a qualifying approach light system.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. Mark Kolber on Nov 24, 2013

    >> what is the category for this ILS approach?

    John, I may be wrong on this but aren’t Category II and II approaches identified as such in the title of the approach? IOW, if there’s no designation, it’s Category I.

    (There may be a designation even for Category I if, for example its a Special Aircrew Category I approach)

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Wes Beard on Nov 24, 2013

    Mark,
    You are correct. Category II and III approaches are labeled as such in the approach title. All instrument rated pilots are able to perform category I approaches unless it is a SAAAR (special aircrew / aircraft authorization required) approach. Most SAAAR approaches deal with RNP (required navigational performance) approaches.

    Category II and II approaches require aircrew training and the airplane has to have the extra equipment required by that category.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.