What training or certification is required to operate Cat II/III operations on the A320 family?

• A. Specialized Cat II/III training, simulator time, and operator-specific SOP sign-off; standard operating procedures must be met.
• B. Basic PIC certification with no additional training.
• C. No special training required beyond general flight training.
• D. Airline-specific ground handling training only.

Answer: (A)

Operating Cat II/III landings on the A320 family isn’t covered by basic flight certification alone. The main concept here is that low-visibility approaches require a dedicated program: you must complete specialized Cat II/III training, gain substantial simulator time to practice autoland and low-visibility approaches, and receive a sign-off tied to the operator’s own Standard Operating Procedures. This ensures you are fluent with the aircraft’s automated flight modes, the flight crew’s callouts, approach minima, and the specific company procedures for low-visibility operations. The training also validates that you can handle contingencies and perform a go-around or miss on a Cat II/III approach if needed, all while adhering to the operator’s safe practices and regulatory requirements.

General flight training or basic PIC certification does not cover these specialized procedures, nor does airline-specific ground handling training address the flight crew qualifications needed for Cat II/III operations. The combination of dedicated training, simulator practice, and an operator-specific SOP sign-off is what enables safe, compliant execution of these advanced approaches.