AIM Text
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.
Source: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual · current edition · paragraph 7-6-18.
The short answer
This AIM section is FAA advisory guidance on automatic (autoland) landing operations. It tells pilots to confirm the flight control and approach guidance systems support a safe automatically flown landing, check for NOTAMs or chart notes that preclude autoland, advise ATC of intent, and stay ready to disengage. The FAA evaluates ground infrastructure only at CAT II, SA CAT II, and CAT III procedures.
Research Notes
Common Questions
Which runways does the FAA evaluate for automatic landing suitability?
The FAA only evaluates runways and other ground infrastructure for autoland suitability at facilities associated with published CAT II, SA CAT II, and CAT III instrument approach procedures. At other runways, pilots must independently determine that the systems permit a safe automatically flown landing, considering ILS classification code, threshold crossing height, runway slope, and pre-threshold terrain.
What should a pilot check before conducting an autoland?
Pilots must ensure the runway, procedure, navigation source, and infrastructure have no outstanding NOTAMs or chart notes that would preclude autoland, such as “Localizer unusable inside the threshold” or “Glide slope unusable below xxx feet.” They should advise ATC of their intent, remain alert to unsuitable system performance, and be prepared to disengage the automatic landing system when necessary.
What ILS guidance applies during an automatic landing?
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, because surface vehicles or aircraft near the antennas can distort the localizer and glideslope signals the autoland system relies upon.