Index   389 -- Page 390 -- 391

AIM                                                                                                         12/10/15



     2. Precision Obstacle Free Zone (POFZ). A                (SM) (or runway visual range below 4,000 feet). If the
volume of airspace above an area beginning at the             POFZ is not clear, the MINIMUM authorized height
runway threshold, at the threshold elevation, and             above touchdown (HAT) and visibility is 250 feet and
centered on the extended runway centerline. The               3/ SM. The POFZ is considered clear even if the wing
                                                                4
POFZ is 200 feet (60m) long and 800 feet (240m)               of the aircraft holding on a taxiway waiting for
wide. The POFZ must be clear when an aircraft on a            runway clearance penetrates the POFZ; however,
vertically guided final approach is within 2 nautical         neither the fuselage nor the tail may infringe on the
miles of the runway threshold and the reported ceiling        POFZ. The POFZ is applicable at all runway ends
is below 250 feet or visibility less than 3/4 statute mile    including displaced thresholds.


                                                       FIG 5-4-29
                                        Precision Obstacle Free Zone (POFZ)




   c. Straight-in Minimums are shown on the IAP               make a normal approach for landing. Under such
when the final approach course is within 30 degrees           conditions and when ATC has cleared them for
of the runway alignment (15 degrees for GPS IAPs)             landing on that runway, pilots are not expected to
and a normal descent can be made from the IFR                 circle even though only circling minimums are
altitude shown on the IAP to the runway surface.              published. If they desire to circle, they should advise
When either the normal rate of descent or the runway          ATC.
alignment factor of 30 degrees (15 degrees for GPS
                                                                 d. Side-Step Maneuver Minimums. Landing
IAPs) is exceeded, a straight-in minimum is not
                                                              minimums for a side-step maneuver to the adjacent
published and a circling minimum applies. The fact
                                                              runway will normally be higher than the minimums
that a straight-in minimum is not published does not
                                                              to the primary runway.
preclude pilots from landing straight-in if they have
the active runway in sight and have sufficient time to


5-4-54                                                                                            Arrival Procedures