7-6-18 Automatic Landing Operations

Prior to conducting automatic landing operations, pilots are expected to determine that the flight control and instrument approach guidance systems being used permit safe, automatically flown landings to be conducted at that runway. The analysis should include, but not be limited to, ILS classification code where applicable, suitable threshold crossing height, runway slope, and pre-threshold terrain. The FAA only evaluates runways and other ground infrastructure for suitability to support automatic landing operations for those facilities associated with published CAT II, SA CAT II, and CAT III instrument approach procedures. When conducting automatic landing operations, pilots must ensure that the runway, associated procedure, navigation source, and other infrastructure have no outstanding NOTAMs or chart notes that would preclude automatic landing operations (e.g., “Localizer unusable inside the threshold,” or “Glide slope unusable below xxx feet”). Pilots should advise ATC of their intent to conduct an automatic landing, remain alert to any unsuitable system performance, and be prepared to disengage the automatic landing system when necessary. During automatic landing operations using an ILS facility, pilots should understand and observe the provisions of AIM, subparagraph 1–1–9k, ILS Course and Glideslope Distortion.