Critical Area - Aviation

Aviation

In aviation, a critical area refers to a designated area of an airport that all aircraft must remain clear of when another aircraft is inbound on an ILS approach. The critical area should be avoided when the weather is less than or equal to 2 miles visibility or less than or equal to 800 ft. ceilings. These areas are used to protect against signal interference or attenuation that may lead to navigational errors, or worse.

ILS technology delivers two main types of information to pilots. These types include the glideslope (vertical location relative to the designed glide path) and the localizer (lateral position relative to the designed approach course). Each type of information is broadcast using a separate antenna array and each type has a specific critical area.

Localizer critical area - Vehicles and aircraft are not authorized in or over the critical area when an arriving aircraft is between the ILS final approach fix and the airport.

Glideslope critical area - Vehicles and aircraft are not authorized in or over the critical area when an arriving aircraft is between the ILS final approach fix and the airport unless the aircraft has reported the airport in sight and is circling or sidestepping to land on a runway other than the ILS runway.

For practical purposes, these two areas are combined into the ILS critical area and identified by signs and pavement markings.

During times of reduced ceilings and visibility (800 ft / 2 miles) or during ILS Autoland (coupled) approaches pilots are expected to:

BEFORE TAKEOFF - Stop aircraft before entering the critical area while waiting for takeoff.

AFTER LANDING - Move the aircraft out of the critical area before stopping to receive taxi instructions from the ground controller.

Much larger than the critical area is the sensitive area. Aircraft and vehicles are not allowed in this area when Low Visibility Procedures are in force, since aircraft will be making autolands and therefore the accuracy of the guidance signals provided by the ILS is absolutely critical.