Definition
The lowest visibility or runway visual range value at which a Category A helicopter may legally begin or continue an instrument approach, as published on the approach chart and authorized by the operator's Operations Specifications. Category A applies to helicopters operated under Part 97 standard instrument procedures, and the published Cat A minima are the baseline before any operator-specific reductions or restrictions are applied.
Plain English
The minimum visibility (or runway visual range) a helicopter pilot needs to fly an instrument approach, using the Category A line on the approach chart.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter instrument procedures, approach chart minimums, and an operator’s operations specifications.
Derivation
Aircraft approach categories (A through E) were created by the FAA to group aircraft by approach speed so that minimums could be set appropriately. Helicopters fall into Category A because of their low approach speeds. 'Minimum' here means the lowest legal value — go below it and the approach is not authorized.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether the pilot can continue the approach to landing or must execute a missed approach.
Grounding Statement
If the weather report says you can see less than the required Category A visibility/RVR minimum, that approach is not available under that minimum.
Intuition Check
Do not read “Category A” as a quality grade or a difficulty level. Here it means the approach-speed group, and the visibility/RVR minimum is the lowest approved visibility value for that group.
Example Sentence 1
Before starting the approach, the pilot checked that the reported RVR met the Category A minimum published on the chart.
Example Sentence 2
Ops specs listed a 1/2 mile Category A visibility/RVR minimum for the RNAV approach.