We use necessary cookies to make our website work. We'd also like to use optional cookies to understand how you use it, and to help us improve it.

For more information, please read our cookie policy.

UK Civil Aviation Regulations

These are published by the CAA on our UK Regulations pages. EU Regulations and EASA Access Guides published by EASA no longer apply in the UK. Our website and publications are being reviewed to update all references. Any references to EU law and EASA Access guides should be disregarded and where applicable the equivalent UK versions referred to instead.



All Weather Operations (AWOPS) approvals allow aircraft to make low visibility take-offs and landings.

The Air Navigation Order states that an aircraft "must not conduct a Category II, Category IIIA or Category IIIB approach and landing; or take off when the relevant runway visual range is less than 150 metres" unless approval to do so has been issued.

Category II

Landing following a precision approach using an Instrument Landing System or Microwave System with a decision height of below 200 feet but not less than 100 feet. Runway visual range: not less than 300 metres.

Close Category II

Category IIIA

Landing following a precision approach using an Instrument Landing System or Microwave System with a decision height of below 100 feet. Runway visual range: not less than 200 metres.

Close Category IIIA

Category IIIB

Landing following a precision approach using an Instrument Landing System or Microwave System with a decision height of below 50 feet. Runway visual range: less than 200 metres but not less than 75 metres.

Close Category IIIB

AWOPS approval will be granted only to aircraft holding the appropriate equipment and applying additional training, procedures and maintenance.

UK Reg (EU) 965/2012 determines the requirements Subpart E determines the requirements set for Category II, IIIA and IIIB operations, and low visibility take-offs.

Applying for AWOPS Approval - AOC Holders

Application should be made directly to the designated Flight Operations Inspector. The fee due is included within the cost of an AOC application in accordance with the CAA Scheme of Charges - Air Operator and Police Air Operator Certificates.

Applying for AWOPS Approval - Non-AOC Holders

Application should be made to the General Aviation Unit. The fee due is in accordance with the CAA Scheme of Charges - General Aviation.

Please note that foreign operators wishing to conduct low visibility take-off and landing in the UK no longer require a CAA AWOPS approval. However, approval must be sought from the NAA of the State of aircraft registry before AWOPS operations are performed in the UK.