Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

4 Answers

RVR VS. RVV

Asked by: 14503 views Instrument Rating

What's the difference between runway visual range (RVR) and runway visual value (RVV)? After reading about them in the instrument procedures handbook (p.1-10), I have done some research on the web, but it's still a little confusing. As far as I know, flights operating under part 121 or 135 use RVR as their approach visual minimum, but the handbook states "RVV is used in lieu of prevailing visibility in determining minimums for a particular runway." In what aspects do they exactly differ, and how are they used differently in the actual commercial aviation world?

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

4 Answers



  1. Jim F. on Jan 26, 2017

    I didn’t know, so a quick search reveled this question previously asked and answered by Wes: http://www.askacfi.com/32035/visibility-3.htm

    “In the simplest terms, the RVR value is the distance a pilot will see down the runway from the approach end. It is based on the sighting of either high intensity runway lights or on the visual contrast of other targets.

    RVV is the distance down the runway that a pilot can see unlighted objects.

    See Instrument Procedures Handbook, p. 2-8”

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes

  2. Best Answer


    Jim F. on Jan 26, 2017

    Oh, and in the commercial world (121/135), RVR allows for operations below 1/2 mile, while RVV is treated no different than airport visibility, so anything under 1/2 doesn’t help.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Lemontree on Jan 26, 2017

    Thanks Jim for your answers. Actually, I already saw the answer you linked but couldn’t find a source for the statement that “RVV is the distance down the runway that a pilot can see unlighted objects.” Nowhere in the IPH says RVV is based on unlighted objects. So I needed a second opinion. Thanks.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  4. GiancarloG on Sep 19, 2017

    This is from the Pilot/Controller Glossary:

    Runway Visibility Value (RVV)− The visibility determined for a particular runway by a transmis-someter. A meter provides a continuous indication of the visibility (reported in miles or fractions of miles) for the runway. RVV is used in lieu of prevailing visibility in determining minimums for a particular runway.

    Runway Visual Range (RVR)− An instrumen-tally derived value, based on standard calibrations, that represents the horizontal distance a pilot will see down the runway from the approach end. It is based on the sighting of either high intensity runway lights or on the visual contrast of other targets whichever yields the greater visual range. RVR, in contrast to prevailing or runway visibility, is based on what a pilot in a moving aircraft should see looking down the runway. RVR is horizontal visual range, not slant visual range. It is based on the measurement of a transmissometer made near the touchdown point of the instrument runway and is reported in hundreds of feet. RVR is used in lieu of RVV and/or prevailing visibility in determining minimums for a particular runway.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.