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Low Visibility & CAT II/III Operations Explained | RVR, LVP, CAT III Lighting & Follow the Greens | ICAO Annex 14

Low Visibility Operations (LVO) and CAT II/III airport operations are among the most advanced applications of Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL), enabling aircraft to take off, land, and taxi safely when visibility is severely restricted. This presentation by Rahul Sharma – Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist provides a comprehensive technical overview of Low Visibility Procedures (LVP), Runway Visual Range (RVR), CAT II/III lighting systems, and advanced taxi guidance in accordance with ICAO Annex 14 and international airport engineering standards. Low Visibility & CAT II/III Operations Designed for airport engineers, aviation professionals, airport operators, and civil aviation students, this presentation explains how modern airfield lighting systems support precision operations during fog, rain, and other adverse weather conditions. Topics Covered Introduction to Low Visibility Operations (LVO) Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) ICAO CAT I, CAT II & CAT III Operations Runway Visual Range (RVR) RVR Measurement Systems Touchdown Zone (TDZ) RVR Mid-point & Stop-end RVR CAT II & CAT III Lighting Requirements High-Intensity Runway Lighting Touchdown Zone Lights Runway Centerline Lighting Taxiway Centerline Lighting Automated Stop Bars A-SMGCS Integration Follow the Greens Guidance CAT III Runway Operations Auto Land Support Redundant AGL Systems Low Visibility Airport Operations ICAO Annex 14 Standards This presentation explains how Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) are activated, how RVR is measured, and why CAT II/III operations require high-intensity runway lighting, touchdown zone lighting, runway centerline lighting, interlocked stop bars, and A-SMGCS guidance systems. It also covers Follow the Greens taxi guidance, redundant AGL architecture, and the critical role of airport lighting during CAT III precision operations and Autoland conditions. This presentation is ideal for: Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Engineers Airport Electrical Engineers Airport Operations Teams Aviation Professionals Airport Consultants Civil Aviation Students Electrical Engineering Students ICAO & DGCA Exam Aspirants Airport Infrastructure Professionals Aviation Enthusiasts Whether you are studying airport lighting systems, preparing for aviation examinations, or working in airport infrastructure, this presentation provides a practical and technically accurate understanding of Low Visibility Operations, CAT II/III lighting systems, RVR, LVP, and advanced airport surface guidance systems. Author: Rahul Sharma - Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist

Engineering◦
SECTION - 10 LOW VISIBILITY & CAT II/III OPERATIONS Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma INTRODUCTION TO AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING (AGL) By Rahul Sharma Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist This presentation is intended for introductory and educational purposes only. It does not constitute engineering specifications or regulatory guidance.
Introduction to Low Visibility Operations (LVO) Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma What & Why? Low Visibility Operations (LVO) allow aircraft to take off and land when natural visibility is restricted. This is critical for maintaining airport capacity, minimizing diversions, and ensuring safety during adverse weather. ICAO Categories Visibility Limitations * Visual guidance requirements increase exponentially as visibility decreases (RVR drops). CAT IIIC
Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma PURPOSE OF LVP Standardized protocols implemented to protect aircraft, prevent incursions, and safeguard ILS signals when visibility restricts normal oversight. ACTIVATION CRITERIA (TYPICAL) * Thresholds vary by aerodrome specific AIP. STAKEHOLDER RESPONSIBILITIES TYPICAL LVP WORKFLOW < 550m RUNWAY VISUAL RANGE (RVR) < 200ft CLOUD CEILING WEATHER WARNING SAFEGUARDING LVP DECLARATION FULL OPERATIONS TERMINATION ATC Declare LVP status, increase separation, and use Surface Movement Radar. AGL Maintenance Inspect CAT II/III lighting and ensure standby power (UPS/Gen) readiness. Pilots Strict minima compliance, slow taxiing, and precise follow-the-greens logic. Ground Vehicles Withdrawal of non-essential traffic and mandatory escort/restricted routes.
LVP Operational Components Definition & Triggers Specific aerodrome procedures applied during reduced visibility to ensure safe aircraft movement and prevent runway incursions. CAT-II/III Readiness Mandates high-intensity precision AGL (Touchdown Zone, Centerline) and interleaved circuits with sub-second secondary power switchover. Stop Bars & Interlocking Essential protection measures. Red stop bars are interlocked with lead-on taxiway lighting to prevent conflicting movements. A-SMGCS Coordination Advanced Surface Movement Guidance & Control System provides digital surveillance using ground radar for real-time monitoring of all airfield assets. Runway Protection Measures Strict control of ILS Critical and Sensitive Areas. No vehicle or aircraft movement is permitted within these zones when LVP is active to prevent signal interference during Autoland. TYPICAL CAT-III OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma
Runway Visual Range (RVR) Operational Category Min. RVR Requirements Category I (CAT I) ≥ 550 m Category II (CAT II) ≥ 300 m Category IIIA (CAT IIIA) ≥ 175 m Category IIIB (CAT IIIB) ≥ 50 m DEFINITION The distance over which a pilot on the centerline of a runway can see the runway surface markings or the lights delineating the runway. RELATION TO LIGHTING INTENSITY RVR is calculated using Allard's Law. Increasing the CCR brightness step (1-5) directly increases the reported RVR distance for the same fog density. Technical RVR sensor installed on a foggy runway Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma
RVR Measurement Systems Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma Operational Relationship CAT II/III operations strictly mandate specific RVR minima across all three sensors. For CAT IIIb, all sensors (TDZ, MID, END) are typically required to ensure continuous guidance throughout the entire landing roll. Touchdown Zone Located near the landing threshold. Critical for the landing decision and initial visual acquisition of the runway lights. Mid-point RVR Monitors the rollout phase. Ensures high-speed deceleration can be managed safely with adequate guidance. Stop-end RVR Final sensor for braking and taxi- off. Essential for confirming the aircraft has safely cleared the active runway. MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS Airports use Transmissometers or Forward Scatter Meters located at three points: Touchdown Zone (TDZ), Mid-point (MID), and Roll-out (END).
CAT II & CAT III Lighting Requirements Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma MANDATORY COMPLIANCE Under ICAO Annex 14, these lighting systems are not elective; they are mandatory for precision operations to provide the necessary visual references for pilot decision-making and manual/automatic landings. HIGH INTENSITY RUNWAY LIGHTING APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEMS TOUCHDOWN ZONE LIGHTS (TDZ) | | | RUNWAY CENTERLINE LIGHTING TAXIWAY CENTERLINE LIGHTING AUTOMATED STOP BARS
CAT-III Runway Operations Low Visibility Landing Designed for the most demanding RVR (Runway Visual Range) conditions (< 200m). AGL provides the visual reference for the "Decision Height" where electronics meet vision. Auto Land Support High-intensity precision lighting acts as the ground- based verification for ILS Auto Land systems, guiding the aircraft through flare to a safe touchdown on the centerline. High Redundancy Systems Interleaved circuit architecture (Circuit A/B) ensures that if one fails, 50% of lights stay on. Switchover to standby power is mandated at < 1 second. Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma
“Follow the Greens” Concept Interlocked Lighting Taxiway centerline lights are digitally interlocked with Stop Bars. Green lead-on lights illuminate only when the associated red stop bar is extinguished by ATC. Pilot Taxi Guidance Provides unambiguous routing by illuminating only the segments required for the cleared path, significantly reducing the potential for pilot navigation errors. A-SMGCS Level 4 The highest level of Advanced Surface Movement Guidance & Control Systems, automating conflict detection and providing dynamic 'follow the greens' guidance to optimize throughput. Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma
Rahul Sharma | Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Specialist © Rahul Sharma Pilot’s Eye View Simulation Why Important? Non-engineers must realize that in low-visibility conditions, AGL is not a "supplement"—it is the primary navigation source. Without illuminated guidance, ground movement stops. 1. Clear Day Markings Only: Pilots rely purely on yellow pavement lines. Visibility is maximum, but guidance cues are passive. 2. Standard Night Multi-Color Environment: Blue edges define boundaries, Green centerlines show the path, and Red bars mark hold positions. 3. Dense Fog / CAT III Critical Active Guidance: Surface markings disappear. Only high-intensity Green paths and Red Stop Bars prevent incursions.