BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE ...

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AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005
Figure 8.16. Visual Descent Point (VDP).
8.5.4.7. Alternate minimums. Some civil and foreign approaches may have A or A
NA in the remarks. The A tells civilian pilots that the alternate minimums for the
approach are non-standard and they must look in the front of the IAP book for new
alternate minimums. Since Air Force alternate minimums are published in AFI 11-
202 Volume 3, General Flight Rules, Air Force pilots may disregard the weather
minimums listed under the A . The A NA does apply to USAF aircrews and has very
serious implications. The A NA tells civilian and military pilots that the specific
approach cannot be used to qualify the field as an alternate either because of lack of
weather reporting facilities and/or the lack of capability to monitor the NAVAID.
Without weather reporting facilities at the airport a pilot will not be able to get a
specific forecast for that airport as required by AFI 11-202 Volume 3, General Flight
Rules. The lack of monitoring capability of the navigation facilities is a bigger
problem. Without a monitoring capability the pilot won't get any advance warning if
the NAVAID is not operating. This means if the NAVAID goes off the air, there is
no one to issue a NOTAM to inform the pilot of the situation before an attempt is
made to identify and use the NAVAID.
8.5.5. Reviewing a Radar Approach. Depictions of radar approaches are not normally
included in flight publications, but some important aspects of the approach are available.
8.5.5.1. IAP. It is helpful to review a published IAP for the airfield. In addition to
helping you prepare for a backup approach in the event of radio failure, the IAP
provides:
8.5.5.1.1. NAVAIDs. NAVAID frequencies and locations for position
orientation and, in some cases, additional voice reception capability.
8.5.5.1.2. Altitudes. Minimum safe altitudes in the terminal area.
8.5.5.1.3. Stepdown altitudes. A stepdown altitude between the nonprecision
FAF and MAP that may alert you to the possibility of a stepdown on an airport
surveillance radar (ASR) approach to the same runway.
8.5.5.1.4. Radar minimums. Depiction of radar minimums and the glide slope
angle. Normally the precision approach radar (PAR) glide slope will coincide
with the ILS glide slope.