gemini-pilotpico

Below are the section headings extracted from 14 CFR § 91.175 (Takeoff and landing under IFR), followed by a brief study guide covering the key rules and concepts in each subsection.

Section Headings

• (a) Instrument approaches to civil airports
• (b) Authorized DA/DH or MDA
• (c) Operation below DA/DH or MDA
• (d) Landing
• (e) Missed approach procedures
• (f) Civil airport takeoff minimums
• (g) Military airports
• (h) Comparable values of RVR and ground visibility
• (i) Operations on unpublished routes and use of radar in instrument approach procedures
• (j) Limitation on procedure turns
• (k) ILS components

14 CFR § 91.175 Study Guide

1. General Approach Requirements — (a) & (b)

• Standard Procedures: You must use a standard instrument approach procedure (SIAP) prescribed under Part 97 when making an instrument approach to a civil airport unless authorized otherwise by the FAA.
• Minimum Altitudes: You cannot operate below the highest of:
• The DA/DH (Decision Altitude / Decision Height) or MDA (Minimum Descent Altitude) on the approach plate.
• The DA/DH or MDA authorized for the pilot-in-command.
• The DA/DH or MDA appropriate for the equipment installed/used on the aircraft.

2. Rules for Descending Below DA/DH or MDA — (c)

To descend below the authorized MDA or DA/DH, all three of the following conditions must be met:

1. Continuous Landing Position: The aircraft must be continuously in a position to land on the intended runway using normal maneuvers and a normal descent rate. (Parts 121/135 must land within the touchdown zone).
2. Flight Visibility: Required flight visibility specified on the approach chart must be met.
3. Visual References: At least one of the following visual references for the intended runway must be distinctly visible and identifiable:

• Approach Light System (ALS): Allows descent down to 100 feet above touchdown zone elevation (TDZE). To descend below 100 ft above TDZE, the red terminating bars or red side row bars must also be distinctly visible.
• Threshold, Threshold markings, or Threshold lights
• Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL)
• Visual Glideslope Indicator (VASI/PAPI)
• Touchdown zone, Touchdown zone markings, or Touchdown zone lights
• Runway, Runway markings, or Runway lights

3. Landing & Missed Approach Requirements — (d) & (e)

• Landing Restriction: You may not land if the actual flight visibility is below the minimum visibility prescribed for the procedure.
• Immediate Missed Approach Execution: Must be executed immediately if:
• Minimum visual requirements are not met when operating below MDA or upon reaching the Missed Approach Point (MAP) / DA/DH.
• An identifiable part of the airport is no longer visible during a circling approach (unless lost due to a normal bank during the turn).

4. Takeoff Minimums & Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) — (f)

• Applies to commercial operations (Part 121, 125, 129, 135). Part 91 general aviation has no legal takeoff visibility minimums unless specified in Ops Specs or local rules, though following standard minimums is recommended:
• 1 or 2 engines: 1 statute mile visibility.
• 3 or more engines / Helicopters: ½ statute mile visibility.

• Pilots must comply with published Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) or assigned ATC departure routes.

5. Military Airports, RVR Conversions, & Radar — (g), (h), & (i)

• Military Airports: Civil aircraft must comply with local military authority procedures and minimums.
• RVR Conversions: If RVR is prescribed but not reported, convert using the standard reference chart:
• 1,600 RVR: ¼ SM
• 2,400 RVR: ½ SM
• 4,000 RVR: ¾ SM
• 5,000 RVR: 1 SM

• Radar & Unpublished Routes: When radar vectors or unpublished routes are assigned, maintain the last assigned altitude until established on a published segment, after which published segment altitudes apply.

6. Procedure Turns & ILS Components — (j) & (k)

• No Procedure Turn ("No PT"): Do not perform a procedure turn if:
• Receiving radar vectors to final.
• Conducting a timed approach from a hold.
• The procedure specifies "No PT".
• Otherwise instructed by ATC.

• ILS Components & Substitutions: Basic ILS components include the localizer, glide slope, and outer marker (plus inner marker for Cat II/III). The Outer Marker (OM) may be substituted by a compass locator, PAR/ASR radar, DME/VOR/NDB fix, or a suitable RNAV system.