EASA are bringing in new “All Weather Ops” stuff and like usual, they’ve published the up-and-coming changes in an online document that is harder to wade through than a murky swamp, during monsoon season, filled with hungry hippos.<\/p>\n
So we’ve tried to wade through it a bit for you. Full disclaimer, we might have missed a hippo<\/em> or two, which is why this is Part I…<\/p>\n The full 330 page draft document<\/strong> is on the EASA website, along with a 2 hour webinar involving all stakeholders. So if you really want to, go have a listen.<\/a><\/p>\n We don\u2019t particularly recommend it though. It\u2019s not that their \u2018Holistic Rules Making Tasks\u2019<\/em> aren’t super interesting, or that hearing what the aerodromes are doing to implement isn’t gripping stuff, but a lot of it won\u2019t apply to you<\/strong> and you\u2019ll have to try and work out what does and there is a lot of blue highlighting fog to find your way through.<\/p>\n So instead, if you read on, we have actually done most of it for you.<\/p>\n Before we get into the specifics of what you really need to know, here is a \u2018quicker than a fly with a jet pack\u2019<\/i> summary of what is going on.<\/p>\n EASA are taking a \u2018Total System Approach\u2019 to AWOs.<\/strong> Currently airports have equipment, airplanes have equipment, there are no real standards between the certifications of each. Plus, runway suitability really should be determined by aircraft type because trying to define what is regular, irregular, suitable, not suitable<\/em> doesn\u2019t really work unless you\u2019re thinking about what the aeroplanes can actually do\u2026<\/p>\n So, a Total System Approach has been taken to create a regulatory framework that fits for everyone. A one-size-fits-all (and hopefully looks good on everyone) pair of lovely AWO unisex pants.<\/span><\/p>\n We are reading the New CS-AWO Issue 2.<\/strong> It is divided into three subparts. Subpart A has all the info on the \u2018Enabling Equipment\u2019 (ALS, HUD, EFVS, SVGS, CVS\u2026) and Subparts B and C basically contain the performance requirements and airworthiness type stuff.<\/p>\n The (very basic) idea is aerodromes won\u2019t change – their existing equipment already pretty much works for this. You (the operator) can check out the new AWOs and look at your aircraft equipment, and look at the performance specs and work out what you can do where allweatheropswise.<\/em><\/p>\n 90% of airports basically fit with this already.<\/strong> Of the remaining 10%, if you\u2019ve been operating safely into them already then you\u2019re going to be able to sort out some \u201cgrandfather\u201d rights to keep operating into there. All the rest (ie if its a totally new route) you\u2019ll need to get talking to your aircraft manufacturer equipment provider folk to get approval.<\/p>\n It means for smaller operators, and especially ones who don\u2019t have CAT II\/III approval it should be a lot easier for you to operate into places during nasty weather conditions.<\/p>\n It also means a lot of those gadgety bits and bobs you might use are now going to be included in it making permissions to use it much easier.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re an operator<\/strong> then we think these are the questions you\u2019ll want to be asking (and the new AWO stuff will hopefully be answering for you):<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a pilot<\/strong> then these are your recommended questions:<\/p>\n Sorry! We don’t have them for you (yet)! But we reckon if you’re heading into this<\/a> then do so with these questions in mind, and watch this space for our ‘answers’ once we get that far with it.<\/p>\nYou can read it yourself if you want to.<\/h4>\n
But before we get to that\u2026<\/h4>\n
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What are we reading at the moment?<\/h4>\n
The (very basic) idea<\/h4>\n
What does it mean?<\/h4>\n
OK, so October 30 – What do you need to know?<\/h4>\n
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The answers<\/h4>\n