AIM
4/3/14
5−4−53
Arrival Procedures
2.
Precision Obstacle Free Zone (POFZ). A
volume of airspace above an area beginning at the
runway threshold, at the threshold elevation, and
centered on the extended runway centerline. The
POFZ is 200 feet (60m) long and 800 feet (240m)
wide. The POFZ must be clear when an aircraft on a
vertically guided final approach is within 2 nautical
miles of the runway threshold and the reported ceiling
is below 250 feet or visibility less than
3
/
4
statute mile
(SM) (or runway visual range below 4,000 feet). If the
POFZ is not clear, the MINIMUM authorized height
above touchdown (HAT) and visibility is 250 feet and
3
/
4
SM. The POFZ is considered clear even if the wing
of the aircraft holding on a taxiway waiting for
runway clearance penetrates the POFZ; however,
neither the fuselage nor the tail may infringe on the
POFZ. The POFZ is applicable at all runway ends
including displaced thresholds.
FIG 5
−4−29
Precision Obstacle Free Zone (POFZ)
c. Straight
−in Minimums are shown on the IAP
when the final approach course is within 30 degrees
of the runway alignment (15 degrees for GPS IAPs)
and a normal descent can be made from the IFR
altitude shown on the IAP to the runway surface.
When either the normal rate of descent or the runway
alignment factor of 30 degrees (15 degrees for GPS
IAPs) is exceeded, a straight−in minimum is not
published and a circling minimum applies. The fact
that a straight−in minimum is not published does not
preclude pilots from landing straight−in if they have
the active runway in sight and have sufficient time to
make a normal approach for landing. Under such
conditions and when ATC has cleared them for
landing on that runway, pilots are not expected to
circle even though only circling minimums are
published. If they desire to circle, they should advise
ATC.
d. Side
−Step Maneuver Minimums. Landing
minimums for a side−step maneuver to the adjacent
runway will normally be higher than the minimums
to the primary runway.