Runway Visual Range

Gardener, Tim (2007) Runway Visual Range. European Study Group with Industry > 59th ESGI [Nottingham 26/3/2007 - 30/3/2007].

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Item Type:	Study Group Report
Study Group:	European Study Group with Industry > 59th ESGI [Nottingham 26/3/2007 - 30/3/2007]
Company Name:	TMS Photometrics
Industrial Sector:	Transport and Automotive Aerospace and defence
Additional Contributors:	Taylor, Vernon and Gravesen, Jens and Hewett, David and Szotten, David and Townsend, Phil
ID Code:	137
Deposited By:	Richard Booth
Deposited On:	20 May 2008

Problem Statement

Runway Visual Range (RVR) is the horizontal distance a pilot can see on
the runway. It is affected by the atmospheric conditions, by the background
illumination, and by the quality of the runway lighting. An airport control
tower reports the RVR to incoming flights. If the reported RVR is large
enough, and if the pilot can see the runway lights at his minimum decision
height at the start of the final approach then he proceeds with the landing,
but if not then he will divert elsewhere. Many airports have systems for
estimating the RVR, based on standardised values. More advanced methods
involve measuring light transmission on the runway and the ambient light
level.
If RVR is underestimated, a pilot may be ordered land elsewhere even though
landing would in fact have been safe.
By analysing data from Birmingham Airport, the Study Group was able to
quantify, in terms of airport throughput, the benefit of using measured light
intensities compared to the standardised values.

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