FAA PUBLISHES DRAFT OPSPECS FOR COMMENT
FAA has published the following draft Operations Specifications (OpSpecs) paragraphs for review and comment by interested stakeholders. Final changes will affect 14 CFR Part 121, 135, 91K operators.
· OpSpec C054, Limitations and Provisions for Instrument Approach Procedures and Instrument Flight Rules Landing Minimums: Changes to OpSpec C054 being made in concert with changes to OpSpec C059 and C060. Runway length requirements given in OpSpec C054 have been expanded and clarified. This removes the need to repeat the same requirements in OpSpec C060 and OpSpec C059.
· OpSpec C059, Category II Instrument Approach and Landing Operations: OpSpec C059 has been rearranged and edited for clarity. The midpoint RVR report (if available) and the rollout RVR report are now required and controlling. The lowest allowable midpoint RVR is 600 RVR and the lowest rollout RVR is 300 RVR. These requirements are shown in a new Table 2. The requirement that fifteen percent additional runway length is available over the landing field length specified for destination airport is deleted from the part 121, 121/135 and 135 authorizations. (See also changes to C054.)
· OpSpec C060, Category III Instrument Approach and Landing Operations: OpSpec C060 has been changed to delete the requirement that the destination runway length shall be determined prior to takeoff to be at least 115 percent of the runway field length required by the provisions of 14 CFR 121.195(b), and to delete the requirement to determine the required runway length in the event of unforecast adverse weather. (See also changes to C054.)
· OpSpec/MSpec D076, Short-Term Escalation Authorization Minimums: Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 37, Section 1, Paragraph 3-3708 C was revised to add two additional prohibitions against using the short-term escalation program approved by OpSpec/MSpec D076, requiring a revision to the D076 templates. The revised guidance and templates now address seven prohibitions for short-term escalation authorizations approved by D076 for parts 91K, 121, and 135 operators.
Comments on the draft OpSpecs are due on or before February 28, 2013. Please contact our office for additional information or for assistance with the preparation or submission of comments.