What is Runway Visual Range (RVR)?

What is Runway Visual Range (RVR)?

• A. Horizontal distance seen by looking down the runway from the approach end
• B. Vertical distance from the approach end to the runway
• C. The physical length of the runway
• D. The distance to the missed approach point

Answer: (A)

Runway Visual Range is the horizontal distance along the runway that a pilot can see from the approach end. It measures visibility down the runway centerline and is the value pilots use to judge whether landing is feasible in limited visibility. Instruments like transmissometers provide this measurement, and it’s reported for each runway direction in weather data. This is different from ceiling, which is a vertical measure of how high the clouds sit, or from the physical length of the runway, which is simply the pavement distance. It’s also not the distance to the missed approach point, which is a navigation milestone. So the horizontal view down the runway from the approach end best describes Runway Visual Range.

Runway Visual Range is the horizontal distance along the runway that a pilot can see from the approach end. It measures visibility down the runway centerline and is the value pilots use to judge whether landing is feasible in limited visibility. Instruments like transmissometers provide this measurement, and it’s reported for each runway direction in weather data. This is different from ceiling, which is a vertical measure of how high the clouds sit, or from the physical length of the runway, which is simply the pavement distance. It’s also not the distance to the missed approach point, which is a navigation milestone. So the horizontal view down the runway from the approach end best describes Runway Visual Range.