question for the savvy 135 operator

[Sammy]

Situation: filing to an airport with no weather reporting or wx reporting is inop and the airport has no operating control tower (uncontrolled field).

Solution: my company allows us to file to an airport with official wx and list the actual airport we are trying to get to as an enroute fix with a delay. Then when we get to the enroute delay fix (the airport) we canx IFR if the field is in sight.

Background: The opspecs that my company is approved for only allows VFR during two situations. One is when we canx and the other is departing VFR to pickup an IFR clearance because there is no other way of getting an IFR clearance (C077). Also, C064 says that to operate at an uncontrolled field there must be an IAP, approved wx, facilities and service. 135.213 also says that the PIC can make the wx call (VFR flt) when wx is not available.

Question: We arrive at the uncontrolled field and the approved wx source is inop or there never was any approved wx. Can the PIC, in this case, invoke 135.213 and make the wx call (per C077) and canx IFR and land legally?

Thanks

 

[Timebuilder]

Can the PIC, in this case, invoke 135.213 and make the wx call (per C077) and canx IFR and land legally?

Can you think of a reason why he couldn't do this?

 

[Sammy]

Other than the fact C064 says "approved wx" than no I cannot. I guess I am getting hung up on the "approved wx" and the intent of C064 and C077.

 

[Deftone45075]

C064 should only be for operating IFR. Once your VFR, you cancel and proceed to your intended airport.

 

[Rick1128]

Opspec C064 in my manual refers to operations to airports in Class G airspace. Uncontrolled airports may or may not be in Class G airspace. It is my position that you can. It would depend on how your company manual is written. Ours allows us to go to initial approach altitude. If we are in VFR conditions, we can cancel and then land. To file we have to file to another airport but use our intended airport as an enroute fix. C064 only applies to IFR operations.

 

[Webslinger]

Depending on how your ops specs. are written you "may" cancel IFR if you are VFR and above the local MEA, or MVA. However- remeber that if you land at that airport under VFR -and there is NO official weather reporting or the reporting is OTS, then you must be able to DEPART under VFR also. Most pilots use 135.213 (Weather reports and forecasts) that states you may make you own observation for VFR conditions to depart. Also remember that you would need to have authorization in you ops specs to depart VFR and pick up you IFR enroute..usally within 50nm of deparure. or pick up your clearance on the ground...not sure if you have that or not....Cover your but is all I can tell ya, just my .02 cents worth.

 

[pilotyip]

Area Forecast

If the area forecast is for VFR forthe airport, file to the airport, you must have an alternate that meets the 135 IFR alternate requirements in 135.223. Whe nyouo get within 10 miles of hte airport and you see it, you canx and go in VFR.

 

[cvsfly]

Just make sure you still comply with 135.79 Flight locating requirements. You need to be on some kind of flight plan during the entire flight. Technically you should cancel IFR at a fix x miles from airport and activate a VFR flight plan to destination or have your company flight follow with at least the VFR flight plan info. You need some system in place to enact search and rescue if you don't arrive at your destination when expected.

 

[ultrarunner]

Has anyone been sucessful in getting ASD approved as a flight following tool, as required under 135? I was just curious.

 

[cvsfly]

ASD = ?