---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 91.189"
title: "14"
number: "91.189"
heading: "Category II and III operations: General operating rules."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/91.189"
---

# §91.189. Category II and III operations: General operating rules.

- (a) No person may operate a civil aircraft in a Category II or III operation unless—
  - (1) The flight crew of the aircraft consists of a pilot in command and a second in command who hold the appropriate authorizations and ratings prescribed in [§ 61.3](/cfr/14/61.3.md) of this chapter;
  - (2) Each flight crewmember has adequate knowledge of, and familiarity with, the aircraft and the procedures to be used; and
  - (3) The instrument panel in front of the pilot who is controlling the aircraft has appropriate instrumentation for the type of flight control guidance system that is being used.
- (b) Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no person may operate a civil aircraft in a Category II or Category III operation unless each ground component required for that operation and the related airborne equipment is installed and operating.
- (c) **Authorized DA/DH.** For the purpose of this section, when the approach procedure being used provides for and requires the use of a DA/DH, the authorized DA/DH is the highest of the following:
  - (1) **The DA/DH prescribed by the approach procedure.**
  - (2) **The DA/DH prescribed for the pilot in command.**
  - (3) **The DA/DH for which the aircraft is equipped.**
- (d) Except as provided in [§ 91.176](/cfr/14/91.176.md) of this part or unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no pilot operating an aircraft in a Category II or Category III approach that provides and requires the use of a DA/DH may continue the approach below the authorized decision height unless the following conditions are met:
  - (1) The aircraft is in a position from which a descent to a landing on the intended runway can be made at a normal rate of descent using normal maneuvers, and where that descent rate will allow touchdown to occur within the touchdown zone of the runway of intended landing.
  - (2) At least one of the following visual references for the intended runway is distinctly visible and identifiable to the pilot:
    - (i) The approach light system, except that the pilot may not descend below 100 feet above the touchdown zone elevation using the approach lights as a reference unless the red terminating bars or the red side row bars are also distinctly visible and identifiable.
    - (ii) **The threshold.**
    - (iii) **The threshold markings.**
    - (iv) **The threshold lights.**
    - (v) **The touchdown zone or touchdown zone markings.**
    - (vi) **The touchdown zone lights.**
- (e) Except as provided in [§ 91.176](/cfr/14/91.176.md) of this part or unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, each pilot operating an aircraft shall immediately execute an appropriate missed approach whenever, prior to touchdown, the requirements of [paragraph (d)](#d) of this section are not met.
- (f) No person operating an aircraft using a Category III approach without decision height may land that aircraft except in accordance with the provisions of the letter of authorization issued by the Administrator.
- (g) [Paragraphs (a) through (f)](#a..f) of this section do not apply to operations conducted by certificate holders operating under part [121](/cfr/14/part121.md), [125](/cfr/14/part125.md), 129, or 135 of this chapter, or holders of management specifications issued in accordance with [subpart K](/cfr/14/subpartK.md) of this part. Holders of operations specifications or management specifications may operate a civil aircraft in a Category II or Category III operation only in accordance with their operations specifications or management specifications, as applicable.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-280, 68 FR 54560, Sept. 17, 2003; Amdt. 91-296, 72 FR 31679, June 7, 2007; Docket FAA-2013-0485, Amdt. 91-345, 81 FR 90175, Dec. 13, 2016]

### Source

Source: Docket 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40101, 40103, 40105, 40113, 40120, 44101, 44111, 44701, 44704, 44709, 44711, 44712, 44715,44716, 44717, 44722, 44740, 46306, 46315, 46316, 46504, 46506-46507, 47122, 47508,47528-47531, 47534; Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 11; Pub. L. 114-190, 130 Stat. 615 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note); sec. 828, Pub. L. 118-63, 138 Stat. 1330 (49 U.S.C. 44703 note); articles 12 and 29 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 61 Stat. 1180.

### Amendments

[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-280, 68 FR 54560, Sept. 17, 2003; Amdt. 91-296, 72 FR 31679, June 7, 2007; Docket FAA-2013-0485, Amdt. 91-345, 81 FR 90175, Dec. 13, 2016]