LEBL 25R approach lights..

[PENKO]

Not sure if this is the right place for my question, but who knows, maybe there is a technical answer to it..

Why are the approach lights of RWY 25R in Barcelona about 3 degrees offset to the runway centerline? And does this affect its LVP ops?:E

[SplashDown]

They do look like something wasn't done right when installed. Have no idea if it effects LVP's but I'd assume we can CAT3B into there (never checked in the jepps)

[LMX]

A captain told me it is due to the roundabout that was there before they built the approach lights. But it still doesn't really make sense to me.

Our Jepps have CAT II and III minima for 25R. The LVP description also states that with dual RWY ops it will be 25R for arrival and 25L for departures.

[737Jock]

You are all mistaken, the approach lights on 25R are perfectly straight...:E
All of spain is straight in fact. The economy is blooming and the banks have plenty cash.

Now stop this scaremongering before you get sued for defamation of approach lights or the spanish economy / work ethics.

[jersey145]

They actually can afford to switch the lights on still?? :eek:

[onehundred]

I didn't know you need approach lights to shoot a CatIII A/B approach with a DH of 50 ft or less

[Cough]

Seen this - It does look odd!

[aterpster]

onehundred:

I didn't know you need approach lights to shoot a CatIII A/B approach with a DH of 50 ft or less

Perhaps the rules have changed, but when I did CAT III (50 foot AH, 600 RVR) we had to have ALS even though we never saw them.

With a DH instead of an AH it would seem even more so.

[The African Dude]

I believe it's the opposite. For landing visually it is much MORE important to have a functioning ALS. In our operation a failed or downgraded ALS has no effect on minima with any DH below 50'.

It doesn't mention lights that are pointing at a different part of the airport than the threshold, though :E

[bracebrace!]

I'm guessing if the lights are on and you can see the required number of lights and if necessary a lateral element then there's no problem. Can't see anything that says they actually have to be lined up with the runway!

[aterpster]

The ALS for 25R is lined up perfectly with the runway per the Jepp airport diagram. Also, a Google Earth air and street view seems to confirm that.

[BOAC]

It will be the change in variation.:p

[737Jock]

Its the curvature of the earth... such a big airport

[PENKO]

It will be the change in variation.
That's the best explanation so far!

[mcdhu]

No mention of this in the "-9" charts.

[PENKO]

aterpster, mcdu, believe me, they are definitely offset. Way offset. You see it quite clearly on 3 miles final and further out.

[MikeAlphaTangoTango]

What PENKO said. It looks daft!

[Dusthog]

Some time ago they painted runway 25R center lines crooked. Now they are painted straight again. I think it's more complicated to straighten the approach lights.

[DIBO]

Well, haven't been there, haven't seen them, so who am I to judge spanish approach lights. In G Earth, drawing a perfect straight extended centerline (real close zoom-in to align with the centerline paint stripes), the approachlights seem pretty much spot on the center. Even the displaced THD arrow are spot on. So how the lights appear to be at a couple of degrees angle? Optical effect?? Individual lights on the frames not lined up with the centerline? Or is it more the TDZ that looks a bit off center?
And is it +3° or -3° offset to the centerline??

Found two pic's, the close up makes the TDZ look a bit odd. But that's probably due to the ACFT not being dead on the centerline...

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab142/DIBOYOU/PPRune/LEBL25R2.jpg.
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/ab142/DIBOYOU/PPRune/LEBL25R.jpg

One thing though, that VOR arial should be moved at least two foot to the north! But don't think anybody will notice that:)

[FlightPathOBN]

maybe its one set shared for 25R and 25L :}

aside from that..to me, centerline lighting looks on, but it looks like the offset may be from a difference between right and left runway edge lighting from centerline...

[PENKO]

I have only noticed the 'crookedness' since the last couple of months. Before that the approach lights were straight like in this (older?) picture. Anyway, don't believe us, but next time you fly to BCN, think about this thread :ok:

Or maybe it is like Dusthog says, a discrepancy between the painted lines and the light. Come to think about it, I've only seen the effect during daylight.

[Tiennetti]

I noticed this too, and i have flown there only in daylight.
Been operating there for a while then stopped, the lights were perfect... then "something" happened and i recall noticing it from the beginning of this year

[Ovt]

I am a bit late, but yes... I had noticed it too before reading this post.

In fact, I attach a pic for those of you that don't believe it... I have to say that in real life it is REALLY noticeable.

http://imageshack.us/a/img854/9701/fzg3.jpg

[mcdhu]

Coastal refraction?????

[Cough]

Totally agree ovt!

Its one of those REALLY minor things that distract me out of all proportion!

[Rat Catcher]

But they did take the LEBL ATIS to LEIB or at least LEBL stopped telling you the RVR was more than 2000m when you could see the airport from 40 miles away:8:8:E:E

[Ovt]

Absolutely !! I go there almost every week, and I always take a moment to look at it and think..."That's ridiculous!", haha.

[speed freek]

Well done Ovt, good photo. Shows the offset exactly.

I just assumed it was one of those things about BCN we've all come to love :E

Anyone have a copy of that spoof ATIS doing the rounds a few years ago? I remember it being very funny.

[Massey1Bravo]

Anyone have a copy of that spoof ATIS doing the rounds a few years ago? I remember it being very funny.

This one?

0bDOZooUUNE

[Ovt]

Had forgotten about that one ! It is awesome !