Legendary Captain

Chapter 142 RNP AR Qualification

"Star Travel 6777, B communication valid, runway 01, radar guidance, RNP AR approach, lower sea pressure correction 3000 meters, lower sea pressure correction 1011." Star Travel 6777 obtained the approach method of Jinyang Airport when it first contacted Jinyang Approach.

"What? RNP AR isn't RNP APCH?" Qin Zongyang was a little confused when he heard the approach control's approach instructions. This was different from what they had expected!

The first officer quickly understood and hurriedly asked the approach control: "Star Cruises 6777, requesting RNP APCH approach to runway 01."

"Star Cruises 6777, the three aircraft that approached before us using the RNP APCH approach failed to establish a visual reference at DDA altitude and had to go around. The weather at the airport is trending towards deterioration. Could you confirm whether the crew still wants to attempt an RNP APCH approach to runway 01?"

"Three planes have gone around?" Qin Zongyang heard the information from approach control, tapped his fingers on the window shade a few times, and then beckoned to the first officer: "Let me see the radio wave again!"

The first officer quickly handed Qin Zongyang a printed notification slip. Qin Zongyang took it, glanced at it, and then took the first officer's communicator, asking approach control directly, "Approach, were the weather conditions reported by the preceding aircraft during approach the same as those reported on the radio?"

"That's right! All three aircraft approached under critical conditions. However, the crews of all three aircraft reacted at specific decision altitudes, making it impossible to establish visual references," approach control said.

The weather conditions shown on the radio were just right for an RNP APCH approach, which is considered a critical condition. According to regulations, this does not constitute exceeding standards and is in compliance with requirements.

However, weather forecasts can't be perfectly accurate, as weather changes. Therefore, meeting the critical conditions doesn't guarantee a successful approach. Sometimes, whether the runway is visible really depends on luck. If you're unlucky, and a small cloud obscures the crew's view, you'll have to go around the gate.

Qin Zongyang pressed further, "To what extent did they report cloud cover?"

"The crews of all three aircraft reported that they could not even see the ground at the designated decision altitude," approach control replied.

"I can't even see the ground?" Qin Zongyang was extremely surprised.

If cloud cover obstructs the final approach phase of the five-way approach, the order of establishing visual visibility should be: first, the ground; then the approach lights; and finally, the runway. This is the usual order.

Of course, seeing the ground cannot be used as a visual reference, but a standard approach light arrangement can be used as a visual approach reference.

If they can't even see the ground, then it seems they're still quite a distance from emerging from the clouds. In other words, the three leading aircraft's inability to complete the approach wasn't due to bad luck, but rather because they genuinely couldn't see the clouds; even if they approached ten thousand more times, the result would be the same.

"Damn it!" Qin Zongyang pounded on the sun visor faster and faster, and the entire cockpit was filled with the sound of thumping.

"Shall we continue the approach?" the first co-pilot asked.

Qin Zongyang snorted heavily through his nose: "Fine, let's switch to RNP AR then! Let's prepare again!"

"Star Travel 6777, are you sure you still want to attempt an RNP APCH approach?" approach control inquired.

Qin Zongyang: "For the approach, we'll choose RNP A."

Before Qin Zongyang could finish speaking, his right arm was suddenly slapped by the first passenger. Qin Zongyang frowned and said unhappily, "What are you doing?"

He strongly disliked being touched, especially by strangers. Although, strictly speaking, Qin Zongyang and the first co-pilot were colleagues and not complete strangers, Qin Zongyang didn't see it that way. In Qin Zongyang's mind, the first co-pilot was a complete stranger, someone whose face he would forget the next day.

"President Qin, I don't have the qualifications for RNP AR!" The first co-pilot said with a pained expression, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"What?" Qin Zongyang's voice suddenly rose, like a rooster being strangled, his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets: "You don't have RNP AR qualifications? What's your rank?"

"President Qin, I'm a Level 5 co-pilot now!" The first co-pilot scratched the back of his head, looking rather embarrassed.

"Level 5 co-pilot?" Qin Zongyang pulled out a stack of inspection forms and threw them at the first co-pilot: "You're a Level 5 co-pilot and you don't even have the qualifications? Almost all Level 3 co-pilots have AR qualifications now. What are you good for?"

Qin Zongyang's anger was not without reason. Xingyou Airlines takes its pilot qualification training very seriously, and its co-pilots are among the most qualified co-pilots in domestic airlines.

Low visibility qualification, high altitude/plateau operation qualification, complex Category II airport qualification, Category II operation qualification, international route operation qualification, RNP AR operation qualification

Star Travel Airlines has never skimped on pilot training costs. Any qualifications required for various operating environments in China can be found at Star Travel Airlines.

Due to the numerous restrictions on second officers, Star Travel doesn't provide extensive training for first officers at this stage. However, once promoted to third-level officer (first officer), a variety of qualification training programs begin, and by the time a fourth-level officer is promoted, almost all qualifications are typically obtained. It's rather unacceptable that a fifth-level officer doesn't even have RNP AR qualifications.

It's definitely not that Star Travel didn't arrange a training program for him; most likely, he just found it too troublesome and made up an excuse to avoid it.

Not all qualifications will hinder making money. For example, a complex Class II airport qualification means you can't fly to airports within the province, and therefore can't earn more landing fees. Similarly, an international route operation qualification means you can't fly international routes, and therefore can't earn high hourly fees.

However, not having RNP AR certification doesn't have that much of an impact. At worst, you can just not fly to airports that require RNP AR certification; there are plenty of other airports, so it won't significantly affect your profits.

Some co-pilots are just hopelessly lazy and refuse to take even a moment to attend training. As long as it doesn't affect their earnings, they're happy to take an extra day off.

"The company didn't arrange AR qualification training for you? That can't be right! Or did you turn it down?" Qin Zongyang's tone, as cold as winter, almost lowered the temperature in the entire cockpit.

The first co-pilot shuddered. Unfortunately, he had indeed canceled his RNP AR qualification training, citing his desire to spend the day with his girlfriend.

What a ridiculous reason! But it was enough to make him want to cancel the training. The RNP AR qualification was just that unworthy of his attention.

"President Qin, I had some things to do at the time, so I didn't attend the training!" The first co-pilot tried to make up a perfunctory excuse while picking up the scattered inspection form cards.

"Bullshit!" Qin Zongyang roared, "If you really have something to do and cancel, then when you actively seek out Feibiao later, do you think they won't arrange things for you?"

If someone cancels their qualification training for any reason and then proactively requests it from the pilot training center later, the pilot training center will usually reschedule it. However, if someone hasn't completed AR qualification training by the time they reach Level 5 co-pilot level, it means that after canceling the training, they didn't proactively request retraining, indicating they didn't treat the qualification training as a serious matter.

"President Qin." The first co-pilot was speechless for a moment.

Just as the first co-pilot was speechless, approach control came to the rescue.

"Star Travel 6777, are you sure you just accepted RNP AR approach?" approach control asked. Qin Zongyang hadn't finished speaking, and approach control felt it necessary to confirm.

Qin Zongyang glared fiercely at the first co-pilot, who shrank back in fright. He then turned to look at Xu Xian. Xu Xian shook his head repeatedly: "Master, I'm still an academy student! How could I possibly have AR qualifications? Don't look at me, it has nothing to do with me!"

"When it comes down to it, we can't count on any of them!" Qin Zongyang grimaced in frustration. "I told you we should include whether someone has all the necessary qualifications in the promotion process after becoming a Level 4 co-pilot."

The Flight Department had previously proposed that all applications for promotion from Level 4 or above first officer must be reviewed to ensure they possess all required qualifications; otherwise, the application would not be approved.

However, Qin Zongyang rejected the proposal. He felt that if any unforeseen circumstances caused the training progress to be slower, wouldn't the co-pilot have to wait for the training to resume? What kind of logic was that?

Even if Star Travel is willing to invest in co-pilot training, sometimes there may be a shortage of simulator seats or instructor availability. Although these situations are relatively rare, they do occur.

If whether someone has all the necessary qualifications is linked to promotion, what if they encounter some unlucky co-pilots? Are they supposed to prevent them from getting promoted?

Isn't that a bit too inhumane?

However, Qin Zongyang's consideration for the co-pilots caused some of them to become negligent, such as the first co-pilot in front of him, which was something he hadn't expected. At this moment, he somewhat changed his mind.

"We have applied to suspend the approach!" Qin Zongyang finally decided.

"What? Abort the approach immediately?" Approach control was surprised by the Star Travel crew's drastic change of decision: "Is there a problem?"

To be honest, while the current weather conditions make it difficult to complete an RNP APCH approach due to insufficient cloud base height, the cloud base height requirement is much lower for an RNP AR approach. Given the current weather conditions, performing an RNP AR approach should not be a problem.

I heard that after the previous aircraft went around the bar, all the aircraft that chose the RNP AR approach landed normally without exception, which shows that there were no problems with the execution of the RNP AR approach.

Qin Zongyang: "Our crew's qualifications are problematic!"

"Is there a problem with the crew's qualifications?" approach control asked suspiciously. "Could it be that they don't have RNP AR certification?"

For RNP AR certification to be valid, both individuals present must be qualified, not just the captain. The reason approach control was surprised is that if an airline discovers pre-flight weather conditions are critical, they must consider the possibility that RNP APCH may be unavailable.

Jinyang Airport's No. 01 ILS (Instrument Landing System) is under repair and unavailable. If weather conditions become critical, the possibility of using RNP AR (Remote Navigation Assist) must be considered in advance. This isn't overthinking; it's a genuine need to anticipate these possibilities and is part of the company's dispatching duties.

If this possibility arises, the crew's qualifications must be re-verified. If anyone in the crew does not meet the qualification requirements, the crew should, in principle, be replaced to ensure the normal operation of the flight.

Approach control believes this is not an uncommon phenomenon, and being able to anticipate such situations is what a competent dispatcher should do.

So, when we heard that some aircraft had successfully completed a go-around and that none of the crews using RNP AR approach afterward reported any issues with their qualifications, it was Xingyou Airlines' crew that encountered the problem.

"That's right! One of our crew members doesn't have AR certification!" Qin Zongyang didn't go into details, but instead made another request: "Approach, if it's convenient for you, could you give me a heading? We want to circle around to contact our families and ask about making an emergency landing."

Star Travel 6777 is currently at too low an altitude and is already close to the fifth parallel. If it circles in place, it will affect other aircraft. Therefore, Qin Zongyang applied for another airspace to circle and wait.

Approach control waited a short while before responding: "Star Wanderer 6777, ascend to a standard altitude of 5400 meters and fly to the 15-nautical-mile point on the 150-radial line of this airfield. After reaching the point, perform a right-hand circle, and be careful not to approach the 12-nautical-mile radius circle of this airfield!"

The aircraft was circling in place, but the wind was affecting it, causing it to gradually deviate from its circling trajectory. Given the current wind direction, circling along the 150-degree radial line would push the aircraft closer and closer to the airfield. Getting too close could interfere with other approaching aircraft, so approach control specifically instructed Qin Zongyang to adjust the aircraft's position as needed.

Seeing that approach control had approved the abort of the approach, Qin Zongyang gave the first co-pilot a wink. The first co-pilot immediately understood and quickly took responsibility.

"At standard pressure 5400 meters, fly to 15 nautical miles from the 150 radial line of this location, circle to the right in place, Star Travel 6777," the first co-pilot replied.

"You operate the MCP board, I'll make a satellite phone call to the company!" Qin Zongyang said.

The first officer readily agreed, adjusted the altitude to 17700 feet, and then set a point 15 nautical miles from the local 150 radial line, ascending while flying directly to that point.

At the same time, Qin Zongyang used the CDU to switch the company's AOC number to a SAT transmitter and began contacting the company.

In Xu Jingyang's ward at the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province.

Huang Ying straightened Xu Jingyang's clothes, muttering, "Luckily, I didn't let Xianbao stay with that Wen Jingshu, otherwise, he'd probably have a headache right now, along with Xianbao."

Xu Jingyang lay half-reclined on the hospital bed, looking quite content. It was so nice not to argue! Of course, he knew that Huang Ying was only letting him off the hook temporarily because of his illness. Once his condition improved, Huang Ying would most likely leave again.

"I heard from a friend that there's a fierce internal power struggle within the Wen Group right now, and it's uncertain whether the group can even survive. If our Xianbao marries a daughter of the Wen family, wouldn't that cause him a lot of headaches?"

(End of this chapter)