FAR 91.189 — Category II/III Operations
FAR 91.189 covers Category II/III approach requirements: crew, equipment, DA/DH selection, visual references, and missed approach rules for low-vis ops.
In Plain English
FAR 91.189 sets the general operating rules for flying a civil aircraft on a Category II or III approach — the low-visibility precision approaches used when ceilings and RVR are below standard ILS minimums.
To conduct a CAT II/III approach, you need:
- A pilot in command and second in command with the proper authorizations and ratings under §61.3.
- Each crewmember must be knowledgeable and familiar with the aircraft and procedures.
- The flying pilot's panel must have the right instrumentation for the flight guidance system in use.
- All required ground components and airborne equipment must be installed and operating.
When the procedure uses a DA/DH, your authorized DA/DH is the highest of: the procedure's DA/DH, the DA/DH for the PIC, or the DA/DH for which the aircraft is equipped.
You may not descend below DA/DH unless you're in a position for a normal landing in the touchdown zone and at least one required visual reference (approach lights, threshold, threshold markings/lights, or touchdown zone/markings/lights) is distinctly visible. If those conditions aren't met before touchdown, you must immediately execute a missed approach. CAT III approaches without a DH require operating per the FAA letter of authorization.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 91.189§ 91.189 Category II and III operations: General operating rules.
(a) No person may operate a civil aircraft in a Category II or III operation unless—
(1) The flight crew of the aircraft consists of a pilot in command and a second in command who hold the appropriate authorizations and ratings prescribed in § 61.3 of this chapter;
(2) Each flight crewmember has adequate knowledge of, and familiarity with, the aircraft and the procedures to be used; and
(3) The instrument panel in front of the pilot who is controlling the aircraft has appropriate instrumentation for the type of flight control guidance system that is being used.
(b) Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no person may operate a civil aircraft in a Category II or Category III operation unless each ground component required for that operation and the related airborne equipment is installed and operating.
(c)For the purpose of this section, when the approach procedure being used provides for and requires the use of a DA/DH, the authorized DA/DH is the highest of the following:
(1) The DA/DH prescribed by the approach procedure.
(2) The DA/DH prescribed for the pilot in command.
(3) The DA/DH for which the aircraft is equipped.
(d) Except as provided in § 91.176 of this part or unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no pilot operating an aircraft in a Category II or Category III approach that provides and requires the use of a DA/DH may continue the approach below the authorized decision height unless the following conditions are met:
(1) The aircraft is 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 maneuvers, and where that descent rate will allow touchdown to occur within the touchdown zone of the runway of intended landing.
(2) At least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot:
(i) The approach light system, except that the pilot may not descend below 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation using the approach lights as a reference unless the red terminating bars or the red side row bars are also distinctly visible and identifiable.
(ii) The threshold.
(iii) The threshold markings.
(iv) The threshold lights.
(v) The touchdown zone or touchdown zone markings.
(vi) The touchdown zone lights.
(e) Except as provided in § 91.176 of this part or unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, each pilot operating an aircraft shall immediately execute an appropriate missed approach whenever, prior to touchdown, the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section are not met.
(f) No person operating an aircraft using a Category III approach without decision height may land that aircraft except in accordance with the provisions of the letter of authorization issued by the Administrator.
(g) Paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section do not apply to operations conducted by certificate holders operating under part 121, 125, 129, or 135 of this chapter, or holders of management specifications issued in accordance with subpart K of this part. Holders of operations specifications or management specifications may operate a civil aircraft in a Category II or Category III operation only in accordance with their operations specifications or management specifications, as applicable.
[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-280, 68 FR 54560, Sept. 17, 2003; Amdt. 91-296, 72 FR 31679, June 7, 2007; Docket FAA-2013-0485, Amdt. 91-345, 81 FR 90175, Dec. 13, 2016]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What flight crew is required to fly a Category II or III approach under Part 91?
Per FAR 91.189(a), the crew must consist of a PIC and SIC who both hold the appropriate authorizations and ratings prescribed in §61.3, and each must be familiar with the aircraft and procedures.
Q2How do you determine the authorized DA/DH for a Category II approach?
FAR 91.189(c) requires you to use the highest of three values: the DA/DH on the approach procedure, the DA/DH authorized for the PIC, and the DA/DH for which the aircraft is equipped.
Q3What visual references must you see at DA/DH to continue a Category II approach to landing?
Under FAR 91.189(d), you must be in a position for a normal landing in the touchdown zone and have at least one of the following distinctly visible: the approach light system, threshold, threshold markings, threshold lights, touchdown zone, or touchdown zone lights — and you can't descend below 100 feet using only approach lights unless the red terminating or red side row bars are also visible.
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Related Sections in Part 91