Roy Smith wrote:


What lets a special approach get lower minimums? The nav signals are the
same, the runway is the same, the terrain is the same, so what's different
about this one operator with the special approach that lets them get lower
mins?

Roy,

That's a good question. Our company has several special instrument
approaches, and I know of others with their own special STAR's and DP's.
I always assumed it was due to the presumption of higher training and
proficiency standards, and/or higher performance equipment, than is
available to the "lowest common denominator" standards that TERPS is
written for. I don't know this for sure, though.

Here is one example: http://homepage.mac.com/.Pictures/KodiacSpecial.JPG

Notice that note #5 describes some pretty specific conditions to be met,
not your everyday faire. Not all of the specials include these kind of
notes, but some do.

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane