General Pages » Law » Part 91.413

91.413 Take-off and landing under IFR 

(a) Instrument approaches to aerodromes. When an instrument approach procedure to an aerodrome is necessary, a pilot-in-command of an aircraft operating under IFR must use a standard instrument approach procedure for the aerodrome published in the applicable AIP.

(b) Authorised DA, DH, or MDA. When the instrument approach procedure required by paragraph (a) provides for and requires the use of a DA, DH, or MDA, a pilot-in-command must use the DA, DH, or MDA that is the highest of the following—

• (1) the DA, DH, or MDA prescribed by the instrument approach procedure; or
• (2) the DA, DH, or MDA prescribed for the pilot-in-command; or
• (3) the DA, DH, or MDA for which the aircraft is equipped.

(c) Operation below DA, DH, or MDA. Where a DA, DH, or MDA is applicable, a pilot-in-command must not operate an aircraft at any aerodrome below the MDA, or continue an instrument approach procedure below the DA or DH prescribed in paragraph (b), unless—

• (1) the aircraft is continuously in a position from which a descent to a landing on the intended runway can be made at a normal rate of descent using normal manoeuvres that allows touchdown to occur within the touchdown zone of the runway of intended landing; and
• (2) the flight visibility is not less than the visibility published in the applicable AIP for the instrument approach procedure being used; and
• (3) except for a Category II or Category III precision approach procedure published in the applicable AIP for the aerodrome that includes any necessary visual reference requirements, at least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot—
  • (i) the approach lighting system; or
  • (ii) the threshold markings; or
  • (iii) the threshold lights; or
  • (iv) the runway-end identification lights; or
  • (v) the visual approach slope indicator; or
  • (vi) the touchdown zone or touchdown zone markings; or
  • (vii) the touchdown zone lights; or
  • (viii) the runway or runway markings; or
  • (ix) the runway lights.
   

(d) Landing. A pilot-in-command must not land an aircraft when the flight visibility is less than the visibility published in the applicable AIP for the instrument approach procedure used.

(e) Missed approach procedures. A pilot-in-command must immediately execute the missed approach procedure published in the applicable AIP if—

• (1) the requirements of paragraph (c) are not met at either of the following times:
  • (i) when the aircraft is being operated below MDA; or
  • (ii) upon arrival at the missed approach point, including a DA or DH where a DA or DH is specified and its use is required, and any time after that until touchdown; or
• (2) an identifiable part of the aerodrome is not distinctly visible to the pilot during a circling manoeuvre at or above MDA, unless the inability to see an identifiable part of the aerodrome results only from normal manoeuvring of the aircraft during approach.

(f) Take-off Minima. Except as provided in paragraph (g), a pilot-incommand of an aircraft must not take off from an aerodrome under IFR unless weather conditions are—

• (1) at or above the weather minima for IFR take-off published in the applicable AIP for the aerodrome; or
• (2) if weather minima for IFR take-off are not published in the applicable AIP for a particular aerodrome, a ceiling of at least 300 feet and more than 1500 m visibility.

(g) Reduced Take-off Minima. A pilot-in-command of an aircraft may take off under IFR at an aerodrome at a take-off minima of zero cloud ceiling and visibility at or above 800 m if—

• (1) the runway to be used has centre-line marking or centre-line lighting; and
• (2) the take-off weather visibility is confirmed by the pilot-incommand by observing the runway centre-line marking or centre-line lighting; and
• (3) reduced take-off minima on the runway to be used are published in the applicable AIP; and
• (4) any obstacles in the take-off flight path are taken into account; and
• (5) if the aircraft is a 2 engine propeller-driven aeroplane, the aircraft is equipped with an operative auto-feather or auto-coarse system.