Nav Canada Restricting LAHSO to Dry Runways

Nav Canada, the country’s private ATC operating company, will restrict land and hold-short operations (LAHSO) to dry runways. LAHSO is an ATC procedure that allows for simultaneous operations on intersecting runways. The intent is to increase airport traffic capacity by using two runways simultaneously and instructing one aircraft to land and hold short of a runway where a departure or arrival is occurring.

This procedure has historically been conducted on both wet and dry runways in Canada. Transport Canada requested that Nav Canada align its LAHSO procedures with those of the U.S. Under FAA regulations, the procedure can be used only on dry runways. The revised requirement takes effect later this month.

In addition to the requirement that the entire runway surface be dry, Nav Canada noted these other parameters associated with the new LAHSO procedures: the use of LAHSO procedures when moisture or contaminants are present is not authorized; a weather minima of 1,000-foot ceiling or more and visibility of at least three statute miles continue to be required; crosswind component cannot exceed 25 knots, including gusts; and the PAPI serving the runway used for LAHSO must be operating.