New Generation Runway Visual Range Rvr Category Iiib Evaluation Report

This document provides results of the Category IIIb Evaluation of the New Generation Runway Visual Range (RVR) system. The evaluation was conducted from September 29 to October 8, 1994, at Mt Washington, NH. The primary purpose of the evaluation was to obtain data indicating RVR performance during actual Category IIIb visibility conditions. The evaluation consisted of comparing RVR system measurements with those of human observers viewing runway lights in dense clouds and fog. Observer and RVR measurements were obtained simultaneously and recorded for statistical analysis. Approximately 500 observations were made during the evaluation under day and night conditions. In addition to using runway lights, 'black targets'--dark colored objects, were used in observations and compared with RVR measurements. The black targets were used during light conditions where they would be more visible than runway lights. Results indicated that RVR accuracy was generally within 100 feet or one reporting unit of the observed visibility.