Aircraft Categories

[Flying Illini]

Aircraft categories are determined by 1.3 Vso. That's fine and good. When on an approach in a piper archer (category A [below 91KIAS]), does your approach category change from A to B if you are flying at 95 KIAS? OR does your approach category ONLY change if you are on a circling approach? I.E. Straight in at 95 KIAS is category A and Circling at 95 KIAS is category B?

Thanks!

 

[midlifeflyer]

Your category remains the same, but many recommend that you use the minimums appropriate to your spped you choose to fly.

 

[Timebuilder]

If you increase you speed to the next higher category, you use ALL of the mins associated with that new category.

Similarly, if you are flying a category B or C aircraft, you CAN'T change down to a LOWER category, just because you have slowed down.

Summary: a higher speed means a higher category, but even a lower speed keeps the category mins the same.

 

[U-I pilot]

for circling protected airspace, is the category determined by TAS or groundspeed? If TAS with a big tailwind might pose a problem on windy days..... say you are on the cusp like 85 indicated but 130gs.
-thanx

 

[100LL... Again!]

FlyChicaga-

A carrier's opspecs may call for that method, but if an airplane is Cat B, you use Cat B mins even if you fly the approach at 150 knots. You only adjust up when circling. Again, this can depend on your POI.

May operators incease minimums when flying the approach at a higher speed, but this is only required if your POI says it is. Read the note on the inside cover of the NOS plates.

Straight-in: Use the category your a/c is certified at.

Circling: Use category for actual speed flown.

ICAO rules are different.

 

[Checks]

100L...You are right on.

 

[IP076]

100% Agreement with 100LL.

Legally, the category is 1.3 Vso (Part 91, no ops specs, no POI) for any approach, straight in or circling.

However, it is highly recommended for a circling approach that you use the category that goes with the speed you are flying.

Look at a Jepp Chart. On a straight in they use category A, B, C, or D. But on a circling approach minimums they use a column titled "Max Kts".

 

[Deftone45075]

If your shooting an approach in a light single at 90 knots (which is way above 1.3vso) than why not circle at 90 as well and keep the same category. Why the heck would youwant to circle at 95 knots when you need to cross the threshold at 65.

FlyChicaga,

Approach speed in an airplane with a Vref is Vref+15knots, not 10.

 

[flx757]

Approach speed in an airplane with a Vref is Vref+15knots, not 10.

I don't think you can make a blanket statement like that. Approach speed in the airplane I currently fly (B-717), assuming no wind additive , is Vref + 5.

 

[Deftone45075]

Good point, got my attention.