AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 34

PILOTCOUNSEL

BY JOHN S. YODICE
AOPA SECRETARY

The IFR ‘look-see’ privilege

F

or a long time, it has been my opinion that FAR 91.175 (formerly FAR 91.116) allows a pilot shooting a standard instrument approach in

To review the rule, it is FAR 91.175 that establishes the conditions that must be present for a pilot to continue operations below decision altitude (DA)/DH or MDA. In my 1989 column I named the three conditions, all of which must be met: • The runway environment is distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot. (Any one of the visual references listed in the rule that identify the runway environment may be used. They include the runa noncommercial IFR operation to take a “look see” way itself, or runway markings, or runway lights, that the flight visibility is at or above the minimum the runway threshold or lights, the visual approach John S. Yodice prescribed for the approach—regardless of the offislope indicator, the runway end identifier lights, serves as cially reported visibility. This opinion has recently and the runway touchdown zone or lights. The secretary to the been reaffirmed by FAA Chief Counsel Interpretaapproach light system may also be used to idenAOPA Board of tion No. 2010-37. tify the runway environment with certain descent Trustees. My opinion was originally based on a 1981 limitations that are intended to assure identificaopinion of the NTSB that involved the pilot of a tion of the runway end). Beech Baron who made an ILS approach to, and landing at, • The aircraft is continuously in a position from which a Runway 5 at the Tri-City Airport in Saginaw, Michigan. The descent to a landing on the intended runway can be made at ILS Runway 5 approach chart specified a visibility minimum a normal rate of descent using normal maneuvers. of 2,400 feet runway visual range (RVR). During the approach, • The flight visibility is equal to or greater than the minimum the RVR was variously reported by the controller as between prescribed for the IAP. A pilot must have this flight visibility 2,800 feet and 1,800 feet. When the approach controller from descent below MDA or DA/DH until touchdown. reported that the RVR had changed from 2,400 to 2,200 and What has continued to cause confusion is the condition then to 2,000 feet, the pilot advised: “We’re gonna continue in the rule that “flight visibility is not less than the visibility and…see what happens.” After that, the RVR dropped to 1,800 prescribed in the standard instrument approach being used.” feet before increasing to 2,000 feet and then 2,200 feet, the What is sometimes not readily understood is that the visfinal figure given to the pilot before he landed. Prior to reach- ibility referred to is not officially reported ground visibility ing decision height (DH), the pilot could not see the runway but rather flight visibility as measured from the cockpit of and was expecting to execute a missed approach. But when the aircraft. he reached DH, he spotted the approach lights, the runway Here is the question that was put to the FAA chief counsel: end, and the high-intensity runway lights. He reported the “Whether a pilot may operate an aircraft below a published runway environment in sight, completed the approach, and decision height or minimum descent altitude if the pilot has landed. the runway in sight, but the RVR is reported at less than the An FAA inspector was not happy about that. He moved published minimum RVR for the approach.” The answer to suspend the pilot’s commercial pilot and flight instructor given is “yes,” and that is “because the pilot has determined certificates, alleging that the pilot busted minimums and had that the flight visibility [is at or above the minimum] and acted carelessly or recklessly. The pilot appealed the suspen- the runway, one of the enumerated visual references [in the sion to the NTSB. The appeal squarely presented the issue of rule], is in sight.” I believe this interpretation reaffirms the the “look-see” privilege. At a hearing before an NTSB law judge “look-see” privilege. the FAA inspector testified that in his opinion, a pilot may not A word of caution. In an earlier rulemaking the FAA cauapproach and land legally if RVR is reported below minimum. tioned that the wording of the rule “is not an encouragement The judge agreed. “Whether the RVR is precisely accurate at for pilots to deliberately misestimate visibility to land in the time or not, whether the pilot believes his eyes are more unsafe conditions with ground…visibility or RVR reported accurate than the actual runway visual range or not, the RVR below minimums.” The FAA “intends to closely review the minimums are mandatory.” The dissatisfied pilot appealed circumstances related to any landings made when weather is the judge’s decision to the full board, and the board reversed, reported below minimums.” If that review has been happenrelying heavily on a 1980 FAA proposed rulemaking. The ing over the past decades, it is clear that pilots are not abusing rulemaking clarified that the visibility referred to in the rule the privilege. We have not seen any significant FAA enforceis visibility from the aircraft, not reported visibility. The pilot ment of abuses. We expect that pilots will continue to apply ultimately prevailed; the “look-see” privilege was upheld. the privilege reasonably and safely. 34 • JULY 2011

AOPA PILOT •



AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011

AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011
Contents
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Rally GA: Walking the Walk
Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: The Ultimate Skylane
There’s No Place Like Home
Field of Dreams
Fleeting Beauty
Affair of the Heart
Timeshare for Aircraft Owners
Dogfight: Say It Right
Avionics: Reality Show
Pilot Products: Heavy Tugs, Cool Air
Never Again
Fly-Outs
Fly by wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Rally GA: Walking the Walk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: The Ultimate Skylane
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - There’s No Place Like Home
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Field of Dreams
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Fleeting Beauty
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Affair of the Heart
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Timeshare for Aircraft Owners
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Dogfight: Say It Right
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Avionics: Reality Show
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Pilot Products: Heavy Tugs, Cool Air
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Fly-Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Fly by wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2011 - Cover4
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