Runway visual range, or RVR, precisely measures the distance that a pilot flying an ILS approach might expect to see when looking down the runway in those critical seconds just before touchdown. Because landing and some takeoff minimums are based on visibility, an operating RVR system is a vital operational element to support the high arrival and departure rates demanded at busy airports.
How It Works: Runway Visual Range
Key Takeaways:
- Runway Visual Range (RVR) is a precise measurement of a pilot's expected visibility down the runway, crucial for meeting landing/takeoff minimums and supporting high operational rates at busy airports.
- An RVR system integrates several components, including forward scatterometer visibility sensors (VS), ambient light sensors (ALS), and runway light intensity monitors (RLIM).
- These sensors collect data on atmospheric particle density and lighting conditions, which is then processed to generate RVR readouts for air traffic controllers to relay to pilots.
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