SNAM, an Italian company that has operated Falcon jets for 34 consecutive years, will soon become world's first corporate flight operator approved for Category III manual operations. SNAM flies regularly from its base in Rome to Turin, Milan and Venice, where the ceiling and visibility often fall below normal Cat I and II operating minima -- especially during winter. As a result, SNAM has added to its fleet a Falcon 2000 which is equipped with the Flight Dynamics HGS-2850 head-up guidance system. With proper approvals, the HGS will allow the aircraft to operate down to a 50-foot decision height and a 600-foot runway visual range. The HGS-2850 is also being qualified on the Falcon 900EX.

An HGS with Cat. III capability can "mean the difference between us routinely completing our mission and staying at home," said SNAM chief pilot Aldo Servi. "Several years ago, we sensed very strongly that Cat III would be the next frontier, a key to making business flying more productive. I was pleased to learn that Dassault had similar thoughts."

"Dassault invited SNAM and other operators to participate on a Cat III advisory committee," Servi said. "After listening carefully to our needs, Dassault came back with the optimum solution of a manually flown Cat III approach using the full 'guidance to touchdown' capability of the Flight Dynamic HGS."

Dassault earned JAA and FAA certification for Falcon 2000 Cat III operations in 1997 and 1998, respectively, and expects Falcon 900EX certification before the end of this year. Once the equipment is certified, individual operators must then obtain a letter of authorization from their national airworthiness authorities. Dassault assists in this process with its Guidelines for Gaining Operational Approval for Cat III Manual Operations publication, which has been adopted by the French DGAC and has been found compliant with JAR OPS and AWO requirements. Formal JAA approval is imminent, and FAA review is underway.

SNAM is qualifying two pilots at a time at the Falcon Training Center at Paris-Le Bourget. By early 2000 it is expected that several other Italian Falcon 2000 and 900EX operators will have qualified for Cat. III operations, thanks to SNAM's pioneering efforts.