Runway Visual Range (RVR) is defined as what?

• A. The vertical visibility at the runway threshold.
• B. The horizontal distance a pilot can see down the runway, measured with transmissometers or forward-scatter meters along the runway.
• C. The total visibility in the cockpit cabin.
• D. The distance a pilot can see through the airport terminal window.

Answer: (B)

Runway Visual Range is the horizontal distance a pilot can see down the runway along its axis, determined by instruments placed along the runway such as transmissometers or forward-scatter meters. These sensors send a light beam along a defined path and measure how much light is scattered or transmitted, translating that into a visibility value in meters. This measurement focuses on how far you can see along the runway surface, not upward (vertical visibility) or through the cockpit or terminal windows. RVR values are provided for different runway segments (touchdown, midpoint, rollout) and are essential for takeoff and landing decisions under current weather.