The FAA plans to update aviation’s general flight rules section — Part 91.176 — with new performance-based guidelines aimed at improving flexibility for operators of aircraft equipped with an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS). The rule, effective March 13, 2017, will allow aircraft on an IFR flight plan in most categories to fly a straight-in approach all the way to touchdown, provided the aircraft is properly equipped and the crew trained to EFVS standards. The FAA said the new certification provides a level of safety to flight operations equivalent to what pilots currently experience. Currently, the lowest instrument approach minimums allow for a final descent to the surface from 100 feet AGL if the pilot can visually capture some aspect of the runway or the landing environment with their own eyes.
Flying an Instrument Approach to Touchdown Becomes Possible Next Spring
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA is updating Part 91.176, effective March 13, 2017, to allow EFVS-equipped aircraft with trained crews to fly straight-in instrument approaches all the way to touchdown, even in low visibility.
- This rule enhances operational flexibility by permitting eligible operators to dispatch EFVS-equipped aircraft in lower visibility conditions, such as 600-foot visibility.
- It overcomes previous limitations requiring visual contact with the runway at 100 feet AGL and includes new pilot training and experience requirements for EFVS operations.
- The FAA views these changes as providing a level of safety equivalent to current operations, leveraging EFVS technology which uses infrared cameras for improved visibility.
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