FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Navigation, Air Traffic Control and ProceduresMedium
During a CAT II ILS approach briefing, a first officer asks about the standard decision height and runway visual range minimums. What are the standard CAT II ILS minimums?
- ADH 50 feet, RVR 700 feet
- BDH 100 feet, RVR 1200 feet
- CDH 150 feet, RVR 1600 feet
- DDH 200 feet, RVR 1800 feet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. DH 100 feet, RVR 1200 feet
Standard CAT II ILS approach minimums are a decision height of 100 feet and an RVR of 1,200 feet, compared to CAT I minimums of 200 feet DH and 1,800 feet RVR.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. These values are more consistent with CAT IIIa minimums.
- C. These values do not match any standard ILS category minimums.
- D. These are the standard CAT I minimums, not CAT II.
ILS Approach Categories
ILS approach categories (I, II, III) define progressively lower decision heights and visibility/RVR requirements, requiring special aircraft, crew, and airport certification for lower categories.
- CAT I: DH 200 ft, RVR 1800 ft
- CAT II: DH 100 ft, RVR 1200 ft
- CAT III: DH below 100 ft or no DH, RVR as low as 0-700 ft
Memory trick: Each category cuts the numbers roughly in half