RVR vs. flight visiblity

[saviboy]

From aviationinterviews.com

"RVR reports 1600. The approach dictates 1800. Can you land? Yes. How/why? Flight visibility needs to be 1800."

Can someone explain and/or give directions on where to find study material concerning this specific topic? I thought RVR was controlling.

thanks

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Is the flight being conducted under Pt 91 or is it a Pt121/135 operation? Impossible to answer the question without knowing that. I think under Pt 91 you can legally fly the approach regardless of reported visibility and land if inflight visibility meets the published mins. Under 121 or 135 rules you cannot proceed beyond the FAF if reported visibility is below published mins. However you can continue an approach if the visibility drops below mins once you're past the FAF and even land if the in flight visibility is at or above the published. This determination is largely subjective.

 

[AutoBus]

From aviationinterviews.com

"RVR reports 1600. The approach dictates 1800. Can you land? Yes. How/why? Flight visibility needs to be 1800."

Can someone explain and/or give directions on where to find study material concerning this specific topic? I thought RVR was controlling.

thanks

135/121 RVR is controlling, it also depends on your category,

for Cat I touchdown zone RVR is controlling, mid and rollout are advisory. so with touchdown zone RVR 1800, roll out 1200 you could land. Of course, there are as many opinions on this as there are POI's.


Also if you are past the FAF you can still take a look, also keep in mind that when an air carrier aircraft lands below applicable RVR a call is usually made from the tower to the FAA com center.

When it comes down to it, it's hard to argue with reported RVR. Flight Vis (No RVR) is a lot more subjective.

 

[WSurf]

Never understood, "If you Past the FAF you can still take a Look." What the hell does that mean? So you go take a look, you see the runway and you can't land? Why the hell go take a look then anyway? That doesn't make sense at all!! Unless once your inside the FAF and the RVR is below mins. and they feel now everthing is conducted with the missed approach point in mind!! But then again you can go missed at anytime in a approach!!
Things that make you go hmmmmmmm!

 

[reject007]

Never understood, "If you Past the FAF you can still take a Look." What the hell does that mean? So you go take a look, you see the runway and you can't land? Why the hell go take a look then anyway? That doesn't make sense at all!! Unless once your inside the FAF and the RVR is below mins. and they feel now everthing is conducted with the missed approach point in mind!! But then again you can go missed at anytime in a approach!!
Things that make you go hmmmmmmm!

You can take a look, and if you see the runway environment, while you're at or above the DH or MDA, then you can land. The weather changes and reports aren't perfect, so it's your word against theirs.

The applicable FAR's have all the information you need. Too lazy to look them up.

 

[Carl_Spackler]

121/135 requires RVR or reported vis to be above mins in order to continue past the FAF.
Flight visibility is required to land. Only the pilot can determine flight visibility.

When you get to the DA/MDA you must have the required flight visibility, be in a position to land using normal manuvers and normal rate of descent, and have at least one visual cue such as runway edge lights, threshold lights, TDX lights, etc. If you have the approach lights in sight you may continue to 100' above TDZE (even a non-precision appch) unless you have the red side row bars (ALSFII) or red terminating bars (ALSFI).

I think it's all in 91.135

 

[big pimpn']

Never understood, "If you Past the FAF you can still take a Look." What the hell does that mean? So you go take a look, you see the runway and you can't land? Why the hell go take a look then anyway? That doesn't make sense at all!! Unless once your inside the FAF and the RVR is below mins. and they feel now everthing is conducted with the missed approach point in mind!! But then again you can go missed at anytime in a approach!!
Things that make you go hmmmmmmm!

Under 135/121, if you are inside the FAF and the visibility drops below mins, you are fully authorized to continue and land. The only limitation at that point is that at or above the DH/MDA, you must have the runway environment in site as specified under part 91 of the FARs.

 

[KingAirer]

-------121/135 requires RVR or reported vis to be above mins in order to continue past the FAF.
Flight visibility is required to land. Only the pilot can determine flight visibility.
----------
At or above

 

[AutoBus]

Under 135/121, if you are inside the FAF and the visibility drops below mins, you are fully authorized to continue and land. The only limitation at that point is that at or above the DH/MDA, you must have the runway environment in site as specified under part 91 of the FARs.

Actually not quite true, you must have the required flight visibility to land, that is if 3/4 of a mile is required, you have a 1/4 reported after passing the FAF, yes you can continue the approach but if at DA/MDA you breakout and notice you only have 1/4 or even 1/2 mile of flight visibility, you are NOT athorized to land.

In the case above the FAA has used 'expert witness' testimony from ground observers (tower, line guys, etc) to build a case against pilots who have done that (part 91,121 or 135)

In addition, in the case of RVR it's very hard to defend yourself against landing with RVR reported below minimums, why do it?

 

[AutoBus]

If you have the approach lights in sight you may continue to 100' above TDZE (even a non-precision appch) unless you have the red side row bars (ALSFII) or red terminating bars (ALSFI).

I think it's all in 91.135

most people miss that about the non-precision approach