eprintid: 137
rev_number: 4
eprint_status: archive
userid: 5
dir: disk0/00/00/01/37
datestamp: 2008-05-20
lastmod: 2015-05-29 19:48:03
status_changed: 2009-04-08 16:54:43
type: report
metadata_visibility: show
item_issues_count: 0
creators_name: Gardener, Tim
contributors_name: Taylor, Vernon
contributors_name: Gravesen, Jens
contributors_name: Hewett, David
contributors_name: Szotten, David
contributors_name: Townsend, Phil
title: Runway Visual Range
ispublished: pub
subjects: transport
subjects: aerodef
studygroups: esgi59
companyname: TMS Photometrics
full_text_status: public
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.
date: 2007-08-30
date_type: published
pages: 10
citation:   Gardener, Tim  (2007) Runway Visual Range.  [Study Group Report]     
document_url: http://miis.maths.ox.ac.uk/miis/137/1/runwayvr.pdf