RVR

[Mike Tee]

Please can someone explain the following. At Durham Tees Valley Airport, KLM F70 Aircraft require 550 metres RVR (Runway Visual Range) when landing on Runway 23, whereas when landing on Runway 05 an RVR of 750 metres is required. What are the factors which go to make up such a difference.
Thanks.

[kcockayne]

One factor to be going on with : different approach lighting eg. Length & configuration.

[chevvron]

One factor to be going on with : different approach lighting eg. Length & configuration.

23 has 777m of HI approach lighting whilst 05 only has 605m. Cat 1 (absolute minima 550m RVR) requires a minimum of 730m hence 23 is Cat 1 and 05 isn't.

[Midland 331]

The difference with the 05 end is probably down to the land dropping away and the complexity/expense of extending the lighting out on high poles.

[Mike Tee]

Thanks for that. All quite clear now.

[Piltdown Man]

Technically, they are both Cat I. It's just that the standard lowest minima (we will not consider LTS) are 550 M RVR and 200 feet above threshold, typically expressed as an altitude.

Mike Tee: It's not just KLM Fokker 70 aircraft that fly with those minima. All users are bound by the same restrictions.

PM