---
title: "NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters — Part-NCO · Avioverse"
description: "For instrument flight rules (IFR) flights, the pilot-in-command shall establish aerodrome operating minima for each departure, destination or alternate…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-nco/subpart-b/nco-op-110"
---

# NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

ANNEX VII (Part-NCO) · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

IR Implementing rule

## NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

(a) For instrument flight rules (IFR) flights, the pilot-in-command shall establish [aerodrome operating minima](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aerodrome-operating-minima) for each departure, destination or [alternate aerodrome](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/alternate-aerodrome) that is planned to be used in order to ensure separation of the [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) from terrain and obstacles and to mitigate the risk of loss of visual references during the visual flight segment of instrument approach operations.

(b) The aerodrome operating minima shall take the following elements into account, if relevant:

(1) the type, performance, and handling characteristics of the aircraft;

(2) the equipment available on the aircraft for the purpose of navigation, acquisition of visual references, and/or control of the flight path during take-off, approach, landing, and missed approach;

(3) any conditions or limitations stated in the aircraft flight manual (AFM);

(4) the dimensions and characteristics of the runways/final approach and take-off areas (FATOs) that may be selected for use;

(5) the adequacy and performance of the available visual and non-visual aids and infrastructure;

(6) the obstacle clearance altitude/height (OCA/H) for the instrument approach procedures (IAPs), if established;

(7) the obstacles in the climb-out areas and clearance margins;

(8) the competence and relevant operational experience of the pilot-in-command;

(9) the IAP, if established;

(10) the aerodrome characteristics and the type of air navigation services (ANS) available, if any;

(11) any minima that may be promulgated by the State of the aerodrome;

(12) the conditions prescribed in any specific approvals for [low-visibility operations (LVOs)](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/low-visibility-operations) or operations with operational credits.;

IR · NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2021/2237 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

TAKE-OFF OPERATIONS

(a) General

Take-off minima should be expressed as [visibility (VIS)](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/visibility) or [runway visual range (RVR)](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/runway-visual-range) limits, taking into account all relevant factors for each runway/[final approach and take-off area (FATO)](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/final-approach-and-take-off-area)/[operating site](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/operating-site) planned to be used and [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) characteristics and equipment. Where there is a specific need to see and avoid obstacles on departure and/or for a forced landing, additional conditions, e.g. [ceiling](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/ceiling), it should be specified.

(b) Visual reference

(1) The take-off minima should be selected to ensure sufficient guidance to control the aircraft in the event of both a rejected take-off in adverse circumstances and an engine failure after [rotation](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/rotation).

(2) For [night](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/night) operations, sufficient lighting should be in operation to illuminate the runway/final approach and take-off area (FATO) and any relevant obstacles.

(3) For point-in-space (PinS) departures to an initial departure fix (IDF), the take-off minima should be selected to ensure sufficient guidance to see and avoid obstacles and return to the heliport if the flight cannot be continued visually to the IDF. The minimum VIS should be 800 m and the minimum ceiling should be 250 ft.

(4) For helicopters outside of a runway environment, the minimum VIS should be 800 m, and for offshore [helideck](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/helideck) operations, the minimum VIS should be 500 m.

AMC · AMC1 NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC2 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

RVR OR VIS FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH OPERATIONS — DETERMINATION OF DH/MDH FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH OPERATIONS — AEROPLANES

(a) The RVR (or for non-instrument runways, VIS) for straight-in instrument approach operations should not be less than the greatest of the following:

(1) the minimum RVR (or for non-instrument runways, VIS) for the type of runway used according to Table 1;

(2) the minimum RVR determined according to the MDH or DH and class of lighting facility according to Table 2;

(3) the minimum RVR according to the visual and non-visual aids and on-board equipment used according to Table 3.

(b) For Category A and B aeroplanes, if the RVR determined in accordance with (a) is greater than 1 500 m, then 1 500 m should be used.

(c) The visual aids, if available, may comprise standard runway day markings, runway edge lights, threshold lights, runway end lights and approach lights as defined in Table 6.

(d) For [night](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/night) operations or for any operation where credit for visual aids is required, the lights should be on and serviceable except as provided for in GM5 NCO.OP.110.

Table 1

Type of runway versus minimum RVR or VIS — aeroplanes

| Type of runway                             | Minimum RVR or VIS (m)                                                                                           |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Precision approach (PA) runway, category I | 550                                                                                                              |
| Non-precision approach (NPA) runway        | 750                                                                                                              |
| Non-instrument runway                      | Visibility according to Table 1 in NCO.OP.112 ([Circling](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/circling) minima) |

Table 2

RVR versus DH/MDH

| DH or MDH |           |     | Class of lighting facility |       |       |       |
| --------- | --------- | --- | -------------------------- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
|           |           |     | FALS                       | IALS  | BALS  | NALS  |
| ft        |           |     | RVR (m)                    |       |       |       |
| 200       | -         | 210 | 550                        | 750   | 1 000 | 1 200 |
| 211       | -         | 240 | 550                        | 800   | 1 000 | 1 200 |
| 241       | -         | 250 | 550                        | 800   | 1 000 | 1 300 |
| 251       | -         | 260 | 600                        | 800   | 1 100 | 1 300 |
| 261       | -         | 280 | 600                        | 900   | 1 100 | 1 300 |
| 281       | -         | 300 | 650                        | 900   | 1 200 | 1 400 |
| 301       | -         | 320 | 700                        | 1 000 | 1 200 | 1 400 |
| 321       | -         | 340 | 800                        | 1 100 | 1 300 | 1 500 |
| 341       | -         | 360 | 900                        | 1 200 | 1 400 | 1 600 |
| 361       | -         | 380 | 1 000                      | 1 300 | 1 500 | 1 700 |
| 381       | -         | 400 | 1 100                      | 1 400 | 1 600 | 1 800 |
| 401       | -         | 420 | 1 200                      | 1 500 | 1 700 | 1 900 |
| 421       | -         | 440 | 1 300                      | 1 600 | 1 800 | 2 000 |
| 441       | -         | 460 | 1 400                      | 1 700 | 1 900 | 2 100 |
| 461       | -         | 480 | 1 500                      | 1 800 | 2 000 | 2 200 |
| 481       | -         | 500 | 1 500                      | 1 800 | 2 100 | 2 300 |
| 501       | -         | 520 | 1 600                      | 1 900 | 2 100 | 2 400 |
| 521       | -         | 540 | 1 700                      | 2 000 | 2 200 | 2 400 |
| 541       | -         | 560 | 1 800                      | 2 100 | 2 300 | 2 400 |
| 561       | -         | 580 | 1 900                      | 2 200 | 2 400 | 2 400 |
| 581       | -         | 600 | 2 000                      | 2 300 | 2 400 | 2 400 |
| 601       | -         | 620 | 2 100                      | 2 400 | 2 400 | 2 400 |
| 621       | -         | 640 | 2 200                      | 2 400 | 2 400 | 2 400 |
| 641       | -         | 660 | 2 300                      | 2 400 | 2 400 | 2 400 |
| 661       | and above |     | 2 400                      | 2 400 | 2 400 | 2 400 |

Table 3

Visual and non-visual aids and/or on-board equipment versus minimum RVR — aeroplanes

| Type of approach     | Facilities                                                                                             | Lowest RVR (m)   |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------- |
| PA and APV procedure | RTZL and RCLL                                                                                          | \[no limitation] |
|                      | without RTZL and RCLL but using HUDLS or equivalent system; coupled autopilot or flight director to DH | \[no limitation] |
|                      | No RTZL and RCLL, not using HUDLS or equivalent system or autopilot to DH.                             | 750              |
| NPA procedure        | Final approach track offset <15 o for category A and B aeroplanes or <5 o Category C and D aeroplanes  | 750              |
|                      | Final approach track offset 15o for category A or B aeroplanes                                         | 1 000            |
|                      | Final approach track offset 5o for category C or D aeroplanes                                          | 1 200            |

DETERMINATION OF RVR FOR INSTRUMENT APPROACH OPERATIONS — HELICOPTERS

(e) For IFR operations, the RVR should not be less than the greatest of the following:

(1) the minimum RVR for the type of runway/FATO used according to Table 4; or

(2) the minimum RVR determined according to the MDH or DH and class of lighting facility according to Table 5;

(3) for PinS operations with instructions to ‘proceed visually’, the distance between the MAPt of the PinS and the FATO/approach light system.

(f) For PinS operations with instructions to ‘proceed VFR’, the VIS should be compatible with visual flight rules.

(g) The visual aids, if available, may comprise standard runway day markings, runway edge lights, threshold lights, runway, end lights and approach lights as defined in Table 6.

(h) For night operations or for any operation where credit for visual aids is required, the lights should be on and serviceable.

Table 4

Type of runway/FATO versus minimum RVR — helicopters

| Type of runway/FATO                                    | Minimum RVR or VIS (m) |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------- |
| PA runway, category I NPA runway Non-instrument runway | RVR 550                |
| Instrument FATO FATO                                   | RVR 550 RVR or VIS 800 |

Table 5

DH/MDH versus minimum RVR — helicopters

| DH/MDH (ft)   | Facilities versus RVR (m)\* |       |      |       |
| ------------- | --------------------------- | ----- | ---- | ----- |
|               | FALS                        | IALS  | BALS | NALS  |
| 200           | 550                         | 600   | 700  | 1 000 |
| 201–249       | 550                         | 650   | 750  | 1 000 |
| 250–299       | 600\*                       | 700\* | 800  | 1 000 |
| 300 and above | 750\*                       | 800   | 900  | 1 000 |

\* Minima on 2D approach operations should be no lower than 800 m.

APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEMS — AEROPLANES AND HELICOPTERS

Table 6

Approach lighting systems

| Class of lighting facility | Length, configuration and intensity of approach lights                                |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| FALS                       | CAT I lighting system (HIALS ≥720 m) distance coded centre line, barrette centre line |
| IALS                       | Simple approach lighting system (HIALS 420–719 m) single source, barrette             |
| BALS                       | Any other approach lighting system (HIALS, MALS or ALS 210–419 m)                     |
| NALS                       | Any other approach lighting system (HIALS, MALS or ALS <210 m) or no approach lights  |

AMC · AMC2 NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2023/007/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC3 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

VISUAL APPROACH

For a [visual approach operation](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/visual-approach-operation), the RVR should not be less than 800 m.

AMC · AMC3 NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM1 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

[AIRCRAFT](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) CATEGORIES

(a) Aircraft categories should be based on the indicated airspeed at threshold (VAT), which is equal to the stalling speed (VSO) multiplied by 1.3 or where published 1-g (gravity) stall speed (VS1g) multiplied by 1.23 in the landing configuration at the maximum certified landing mass. If both VSO and VS1g are available, the higher resulting VAT should be used.

(b) The aircraft categories specified in Table 7 should be used.

Table 7: Aircraft categories corresponding to VAT values

| Aircraft category | VAT                |
| ----------------- | ------------------ |
| A                 | Less than 91 kt    |
| B                 | from 91 to 120 kt  |
| C                 | from 121 to 140 kt |
| D                 | from 141 to 165 kt |
| E                 | from 166 to 210 kt |

(c) Helicopters are also eligible for Category H where applicable.

GM · GM1 NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2023/007/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM2 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

FLIGHTS WITH VFR AND IFR SEGMENTS

Where a flight contains VFR and IFR segments, [aerodrome operating minima](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aerodrome-operating-minima) need be established only as far as relevant to the IFR segments. Attention is drawn to NCO.OP.160 (a) and (c), according to which, the pilot-in-command shall be satisfied that the VFR segments will be conducted in conditions at or above the applicable VFR operating minima. For example, for a VFR departure changing to IFR at a transition point en-route and an IFR arrival at destination, the pilot-in-command should be satisfied that VMC will exist up to the transition point, and aerodrome operating minima should be established for the destination and any alternate destinations required.

GM · GM2 NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM3 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

MEANS TO DETERMINE THE REQUIRED RVR BASED ON DH AND LIGHTING FACILITIES

(a) The values in Table 2 are derived from the formula below:

RVR (m) = \[(DH/MDH (ft) x 0.3048)/tanα] — length of approach lights (m), where α is the calculation angle, being a default value of 3.00° increasing in steps of 0.10° for each line in Table 2 up to 3.77° and then remaining constant. An upper RVR limit of 2 400 m has been applied to the table.

(b) The lighting system classes in Table 2 have the meaning specified in Table 6.

GM · GM3 NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM4 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

USE OF THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION

If a pilot-in-command uses information provided by a third party for [aerodrome operating minima](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aerodrome-operating-minima), the pilot-in-command verifies that the method for calculating minima is in accordance with this Regulation.

GM · GM4 NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM5 NCO.OP.110 Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

EFFECT OF TEMPORARILY FAILED OR DOWNGRADED GROUND EQUIPMENT ON LANDING MINIMA

(a) Lighting in Table 5 should be considered only if the relevant lighting is operating. For example, if components of a FALS have failed leaving only the last 250 m operating normally, the lighting facilities should be treated as BALS.

(b) Failures of [standby](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/standby) equipment, standby power systems, middle markers and RVR assessment systems have no effect on minima.

GM · GM5 NCO.OP.110 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM1 NCO.OP.110(b)(5) Aerodrome operating minima — aeroplanes and helicopters

VISUAL AND NON-VISUAL AIDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

‘Visual and non-visual aids and infrastructure’ refers to all equipment and facilities required for the procedure to be used for the intended [instrument approach operation](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/instrument-approach-operation). This includes but is not limited to, lights, markings, ground or space-based radio aids, etc.

GM · GM1 NCO.OP.110(b)(5) — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

[All rules in SUBPART B: OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-nco/subpart-b)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.