Single Engine Turbo into IMC - On its way - AIN

FOCUS ON MRO - February 8, 2017

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Europe’s Move to SET-IMC Faces Challenges Having agreed in principle to the concept in June last year, EASA will issue new regulations this year that permit the commercial use of turboprop singles in instrument meteorological conditions (SET-IMC, also known as SETOps). For many, this change will be the culmination of a two-decade wait and the means to expand both business and commercial aviation in Europe, but others remain skeptical as to whether its implementation will have any major effect on the market. Commercial SETOps is not, in fact, new to Europe, as a number of operators have been undertaking such activities for some years under special exemptions, among them Hendell Aviation in Finland and Voldirect in France. Inevitably, commercial SETOps' introduction will bring challenges, chief among them to bring them in line with regulations, as they do not have the navaids required for IMC operations or required Cat 3 fire and rescue. Europe’s weather also doesn't help, and neither does the requirement to plan flights to take into account gliding distances to diversion airfields along the route. There are also other considerations, such as the current rule that takeoff must be planned to consume no more than 60 percent of available runway length. There are plans, however, to extend that to the normal commercial stipulation of 80 percent.