Flight Training - February 2013 - 48

CAREER PILOT»

TECH TALK

How far can you see?
» By Jared Dirkmaat

LOW-VISIBILITY OPERATIONS
HAVE YOU EVER seen “R14/1800” on a METAR and wondered what it meant? When the surface visibility gets low, runway visual range values may be included on the automatic terminal information service. These values provide accurate visibility along various points on the runway for use during takeoff and landing. Using a device known as a transmissometer, runway visual range (RVR) is calculated at either end of the runway as well as the midpoint. This provides data for touchdown, midpoint, and rollout for either runway direction. These values range from 500 feet to more than 6,000 feet and usually are measured and reported only when the surface visibility is below one statute mile. The standard visibility value required for departure is one statute mile for aircraft with two engines or fewer. With specific runway lighting installed and operational, such as high-intensity runway lights and centerline lights, you can depart with as little as 500 feet of RVR. This allows aircraft to depart with considerably less visibility, resulting in fewer delays and cancellations of private and commercial flights. These advantages are also available for instrument approaches; when authorized,

a Category 1 ILS approach can be flown to as low as 1,800 RVR in certain circumstances (if flown with the use of a flight director, autopilot, or HUD). Standard approach minimums for a Category I ILS are one-half mile visibility, which would equal approximately 2,600 feet (2,400 feet RVR). By utilizing RVR values and operable runway lighting, it’s possible to land with visibility lower than the standard. How is this a safe and legal way to take off and land with reduced visibility? Automated weather reports measure visibility from where the facility is located on the airport, or it’s reported by an observer in the tower. These values are important, but sometimes they don’t accurately reflect what the visibility is on or down the runway. By measuring the visibility in the immediate vicinity of the runway, and at multiple points along the runway, the visibility values generated are considered more accurate than those from a surface visibility report. There are many scenarios in which reporting stations can be substituted for other inoperative ones, or when all are required, or when only one is required—or any combination of those. Know and understand not only the regulations mandated by the FAA but also company operating specifications.

48 /

FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG


http://www.AirSafetyInstitute.org/firc http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - February 2013

Flight Training - February 2013
Contents
President's Perspective
RightSeat
Letters
Flying Carpet
Prop Art
SOLVE THE TAKEOFF EQUATION QUANDARY
Control Freaks
Technique
Weather
Flight lesson
Accident Report
Complexities
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - February 2013 - Flight Training - February 2013
Flight Training - February 2013 - Cover2
Flight Training - February 2013 - Contents
Flight Training - February 2013 - 2
Flight Training - February 2013 - 3
Flight Training - February 2013 - President's Perspective
Flight Training - February 2013 - 5
Flight Training - February 2013 - RightSeat
Flight Training - February 2013 - 7
Flight Training - February 2013 - Letters
Flight Training - February 2013 - 9
Flight Training - February 2013 - 10
Flight Training - February 2013 - 11
Flight Training - February 2013 - 12
Flight Training - February 2013 - 13
Flight Training - February 2013 - 14
Flight Training - February 2013 - 15
Flight Training - February 2013 - 16
Flight Training - February 2013 - 17
Flight Training - February 2013 - 18
Flight Training - February 2013 - 19
Flight Training - February 2013 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - February 2013 - 21
Flight Training - February 2013 - Prop Art
Flight Training - February 2013 - 23
Flight Training - February 2013 - 24
Flight Training - February 2013 - 25
Flight Training - February 2013 - 26
Flight Training - February 2013 - 27
Flight Training - February 2013 - SOLVE THE TAKEOFF EQUATION QUANDARY
Flight Training - February 2013 - 29
Flight Training - February 2013 - 30
Flight Training - February 2013 - 31
Flight Training - February 2013 - Control Freaks
Flight Training - February 2013 - 33
Flight Training - February 2013 - 34
Flight Training - February 2013 - 35
Flight Training - February 2013 - Technique
Flight Training - February 2013 - 37
Flight Training - February 2013 - Weather
Flight Training - February 2013 - 39
Flight Training - February 2013 - 40
Flight Training - February 2013 - Flight lesson
Flight Training - February 2013 - 42
Flight Training - February 2013 - Accident Report
Flight Training - February 2013 - Complexities
Flight Training - February 2013 - 45
Flight Training - February 2013 - 46
Flight Training - February 2013 - 47
Flight Training - February 2013 - 48
Flight Training - February 2013 - 49
Flight Training - February 2013 - 50
Flight Training - February 2013 - 51
Flight Training - February 2013 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - February 2013 - 53
Flight Training - February 2013 - 54
Flight Training - February 2013 - 55
Flight Training - February 2013 - Debrief
Flight Training - February 2013 - Cover3
Flight Training - February 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/ft_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com