Example Low Visibility Operations (LVO) All Weather Operations (AWOPS) Maintenance Procedures
Objective
That only Maintenance Staff Qualified and Trained to certify CAT II & CAT III systems may return to serviceability following defect rectification.
All Company and Contracted technical personnel working on company aircraft must complete pre-authorisation training. “CAT II/III A” Awareness Course “Read and Sign Training” before working on, or managing, Company aircraft.
NOTE - This does not constitute Release authority for Auto-Land operations.
The purpose of the Awareness Course is to prevent your Airworthiness Release for low approach minima operations of systems that impact either the CAT II Automatic Landing Systems, and/or the CAT III Automatic Landing system capability without the required specialized training.
Normal maintenance, repair, and testing per the AMM can be complied with, but the aircraft is restricted from AutoLand operations under low approach minima conditions, unless you have the Authorization Card.
All Category II/III related entries in the DDPG/DDG will be annotated, “Category II/III Restriction – Notify Dispatch”, so as to insure that maintenance and dispatch personnel are aware of the restriction when the system/component is inoperative.
It is extremely important to assure that when a corrective action is taken to repair any Autoland related item, that the corrective action is not the last entry. You must downgrade the aircraft to CAT I status.
Parts Pooling/Borrowing
If a borrowed part is installed in the CAT-II system, the aircraft CAT status may be upgraded in accordance with the Aircraft Maintenance Manual, Chapter 22, “Autopilot System Category - II Maintenance Practices” provided the part is from an authorized vendor, the individual is qualified, authorized, and the required maintenance check is performed.
If it cannot be determined at time of installation, then the A/C must be downgraded until such time a CAT II certified component can be installed and operational check performed.
Notice the “upgrade” is based on you having an Organisation authorization approval, since you do not, the system can be repaired, but the aircraft must be restricted per the DDG/MEL 22 AA.
Alternative Approval within some organisations may require, following pool parts installation an automatic downgrade until replaced with a Company components even if the technician is “CAT II/III qualified”.
Category II Re-certification
Aircraft with malfunctioning system/components that are listed in the CAT II Category II/III.
Component Identification has to be resolved in one of the following manners:
a) Discrepancy corrected by replacing/repairing the malfunctioning unit and performing an operational check In accordance with the applicable Maintenance Manual Procedures, a technician qualified in ramp-down procedures will perform the ramp-down test for the 747 Classics and return the aircraft to CAT II status.
If a qualified Ramp down technician is not available, the aircraft will be downgraded to CAT I status. Use MEL/DDPG 22-AA for deferral until a simulated CAT II ramp-down or an approach to Autoland in Localizer. (Only or better weather minimums can be accomplished.)
b) Discrepancy cannot be corrected, and the item is deferred in accordance with the applicable DDPG Procedures.
The aircraft will be downgraded to CAT I status until repairs can be completed. Once repairs are completed, a technician qualified in ramp-down procedures will perform the ramp-down test for the aircraft and return the aircraft to CAT II status.
If a qualified ramp-down technician is not available, the aircraft will be downgraded to CAT I status. Use MEL/DDPG 22-AA for deferral until a simulated CAT II ramp-down or an approach to Autoland in Localizer Only or better weather minimums can be accomplished.
SofemaOnline www.sofemaonline.com offers the following online training "Introduction to All Weather Operations (CAT II & CAT III) For CAMO & AMO Staff" for details please email us at online@sassofia.com
