Runway Visual Range (RVR) has always been confusing to me. I think I've only heard it on ATIS once in my whole flying career, but since it is the preferred method to measure visibility, it is important to know. If the airfield has RVR capabilities, it will be included in the ATIS or in reports from ATC. When RVR equipment is available, it is required to be reported when the visibility is below 1500 meters. All operational RVRs will be included in the report (i.e. RVR for touchdown, midpoint, and rollout) and can be reported in both meters and feet.
RVR on the Radio
If it is reported in feet you'll probably hear something like, "RVR is 2700 feet on the approach and departure ends of Runway 31."
RVR in METARS
Like the verbal report of ATIS, METAR RVR reports the entire number. The format is R(XXX) Runway Designator including (L)eft (C)enter or (R)ight /(XXXX) 4 digit visibility in feet, for example:
METAR KBNA 281250Z 33018KT 290V360 1/2SM R31/2700FT SN BLSN FG VV008 00/M03 A2991 RMK RAE42SNB42
R31/2700FT = Runway three one RVR two thousand seven hundred
Aircrew may also see the following coding:
M Indicates that RVR is less than lowest reportable sensor value (e.g. M0600FT)
P Indicates RVR greater than highest reportable sensor value (e.g. P6000FT)
V Variable If the RVR is variable between 2000 and 4000 feet for runway 6L: (R06L/2000V4000FT)
N Indicates observation is Not changing significantly (e.g. R22/P1500N)
U indicates an improvement or that the visibility is going Up (e.g. R22/P1000U)
D indicates the visibility is decreasing or going Down (e.g. R04/P1500D)
As I said, RVR can also be reported in meters. The biggest difference is that the FT suffix has been left out. You may see something like:
METAR LBBG 041600Z 12003MPS 310V290 1400 R04/P1500N R22/P1500U +SN BKN022 OVC050 M04/M07 Q1020 NOSIG 9949//91=
R04/P1500N = Runway zero four RVR one thousand five hundred meters and not changing significantly
R22/P1500U = Runway two two RVR one thousand five hundred meters and rising.
RVR on Approach Plates
Unlike the METAR report, the required RVR in an approach plate may only contain two digits. For example, 4000 feet RVR required would appear as RVR40. It's also important to note that on instrument approach plates, if the ceiling is followed by a dash (-) the visibility required is statue miles, where as if the ceiling is followed by a slash (/) the visibility required is in RVR.
| DH | VIS | HAT | MILITARY | |
| S-ILS 14 | 1165 / | 24 | 200 | (200-1/2) |
Finally, nothing is ever simple is it. On the approach plates, RVRs listed in feet are not followed by the suffix FT, instead it is RVRs measured in meters that have a suffix and that suffix would simply be simply the letter ‘m.’
