Section 5. Airport Lighting and Visibility Aids

  1. GENERAL

Airport lighting and visibility aid services are provided at airports without an operating control tower and receiving LAA. The service depends on the location of the FSS and communications capabilities.

  1. AIRPORT LIGHTING
  1. General lighting. Operate airport lighting in accordance with associated paragraphs in FAA Order JO 7110.65, Chapter 3, Section 4, Airport Lighting, except:
  1. As requested by the pilot.
  2. As required by facility directives or letters of agreement to meet local conditions or requirements.
  3. As specialist deems necessary if not contrary to pilot's request or local directives.
  1. Emergency Lighting. When it appears that an emergency has or will occur, provide for the operation of all appropriate airport lighting aids in accordance with local procedures and/or as required.
  1. CHANGING LIGHTED RUNWAYS
  1. To switch lights:
  1. Advise all known aircraft that the lights are to be changed, specifying the runway to be lighted.
  2. Turn on the lights for the new runway 30 seconds before turning off the other runway lights, equipment permitting.
  1. When a pilot requests that other than the favored runway be lighted and two runways cannot be lighted simultaneously, comply with the request if you have no knowledge of the lighted runway being in use. Advise all known aircraft.
  1. VISIBILITY AIDS
  1. Where RVR equipment is operational, irrespective of subsequent operation or nonoperation of navigational or visual aids for the application of RVR as a takeoff or landing minima, furnish the values for the runway in use in accordance with paragraph 4-5-5, RVR.
  2. Issue current touchdown RVR for the runway(s) in use:
  1. When prevailing visibility is one mile or less regardless of the value indicated.
  2. When RVR indicates a reportable value regardless of the prevailing visibility.

NOTE-

Reportable values for RVR are 6,000 feet or less.

  1. When it is determined from a reliable source that the indicated RVR value differs by more than 400 feet from the actual conditions within the area of the transmissometer, the RVR data is not acceptable and specialists must not report it.

NOTE-

A reliable source is considered to be a certified weather observer, air traffic controller, or pilot.

  1. When the observer has reliable reports, or has otherwise determined that the instrument values are not representative of the associated runway, they must not use the data.
  1. RVR
  1. Provide RVR information by stating the runway, the abbreviation RVR, and the indicated value. When issued along with other weather elements, transmit these values in the normal sequence used for weather reporting.
  2. When two or more RVR systems serve the runway in use, report the indicated values for the different systems in terms of touchdown, mid, and rollout as appropriate.
  3. When there is a requirement to issue an RVR value and a visibility condition greater than (P) or less than (M) the reportable values of the equipment is indicated, state the condition as “MORE THAN” or “LESS THAN” the appropriate minimum or maximum readable value.
  4. When a readout indicates a rapidly varying visibility condition (1,000 feet or more), report the current value followed by the range of visibility variance.
  1. OPERATION OF LANDING DIRECTION INDICATOR

Align the landing direction indicator with the favored or designated runway.