MD11 Type Limitation
 

I looked up one of my long ago flight instructors on the FAA Registry. His MD11 type has the limitation "MD11 circ apch vmc only". How is that limitation likely to come about??
Also, what do the designators A/ and A/B stand for, as in A/B 777 and A/MD-11?
Thanks

I can answer the first question for you.. the vmc circ apch only limitation is common amoung 121 carriers. most don't allow it in their ops specs, so they don't do them on the type ride. I have a B737 type with no restrictions, and a A-320 type with the circ apch limitation. Its pretty common to see these.

I believe under the basic Ops Specs issued by the FAA, circling manuevers are limited to the greater of 3 miles and 1,000 or category "D" minima which ever provides the better of the two.

The only way to get the VMC circle removed is to actually train circling appchs from teh circling MDA. Like they have said most dont do circling but it is handy when the airport is under contruction and stuff.

One thing you can do is ask your instructor about it and if you have extra time sometimes they will help you with it, then you can run it by the examiner if there is time.

I have the limitation on my A-300 not on the rest. It is always a pain when I get a new certificate...To many SIC only this Circling only VMC that. My last visit to the FSDO brought out 3 copies of my temp before it was correct.

And anyone who is wanting to fly a VOR or NDB approach down to minimums and then circle in a 737 or Airbus in the rain, low scud etc is NUCKIN FUTZ!!!!!!!!!!

Even doing that in a Navaho or Baron was stupid in my opinion.

My MD11 type (1995) does not have that limitation. My B727 (1998) and A310 (2003) ratings DO have it. I can't recall doing circling approaches during my MD11 training.

A/ means that he has ATP privileges on type. C/ would mean that he only has commercial privileges on type. If he had a C/ type, he would most likely have the limitation "SIC privileges only" on the type, at least for 121 ops.

The B after the A/ is simply the designator for the manufacturer A/B 777 = ATP (PIC) privileges on the Boeing 777.

Circling approaches from a VOR or NDB are still common in some places in the world. My old job trained for them in the sim and executed them at night in actual IMC on the line. It certainly grows hairs on the nutz... or makes 'em fall off (I can't remember which).

Some of the countries that we fly require all pilots to be typed in the airplane. This was completed by simply completing paperwork and signing for the type rating. I was already checked out in the right seat, came back for my six month ride, and then signed away. The restriction can be removed as it was on mine when I did the full blown type rating ride to include a circle in the sim in the 747.