IFR Preparation Minima for BIR holders

Axel-Stéphane Smorgrav
Axel-Stéphane Smorgrav • 29 May 2025
in community General Aviation
2 comments
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FCL.835 (a) (iii) (B) specifies the flight planning minima for Basic IR holders.

NCO.OP.143 also specifies flight planning minima for alternate airports that may sometimes be higher than those applicable iaw FCL.835 (a) (iii) (B), especially if the only approach available is Type A.

NCO.OP.143 applies to all IFR operations, and I would assume they would apply also to IFR operations carried out by pilots exercising the privileges of the BIR.

Was it the legislator's intention that FCL.835 (a) (iii) (B) would supersed NCO.OP.143 for the BIR rated? 

Comments (2)

Joseph Couturè
Joseph Couturè

Good question. Since NCO.OP.143 applies to all IFR ops, it seems logical it would also apply to BIR flights—possibly overriding FCL.835(a)(iii)(B) where more restrictive.

Richard Branson
Richard Branson

I’ve wondered the same. If NCO.OP.143 applies to all IFR, shouldn’t it also apply to BIR flights? Would be great to get clarification.


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