Airport Surface Traffic Control, Visual Ground Aids-Functional Requirements and System Concept For Category IIIA Operations

Category IIIa operations are authorized by the FAA, which permits landings with a runway visual range (RVR) not less than a value on the order of 700 feet. The FAA did not specify criteria for taxiing in the Category IIIa weather. Pilots experience difficulty in operating on the surface along the taxiways and within the apron area because the taxiway visual range (TVR) is about one-half of RVR using the best available in-pavement fixtures, and these are not normally provided within the aprons. Problems also exist with sign criteria, lack of standardization of taxiing aids, visual aids to guard active runways, etc.

Another report issued under contract DOT-TSC-918 (Report No. CR-DOT-TSC-918-1) dealt with the state-of-the-art and design criteria of taxiway visual aids. The state-of-the-art review laid the groundwork for development of this report which contains functional requirements, a system concept, and research and development recommendations for Category IIIa operations. A three-stage development program is suggested which would provide visual taxiing guidance in a RVR of 300 feet in the third stage. This would be accomplished by providing taxiway centerline lights having photometric intensity characteristics equivalent to runway centerline lights.

As for the first report, a joint government/industry advisory group was established to guide the development of this report. The advisory group was primarily operational in membership -representation consisted of pilots (both airline and general aviation), controllers, airline and airport operators, government R&D and pilot personnel, and the National Bureau of Standards.

CR-DOT-TSC-918-2
Author: Robert F. Gates