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REIL Lights and Instrument Approaches

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Airspace

What's the effect of a runway's having or not having REILs on minimums for instrument approaches to that runway?  I'm specifically interested in whether REILs are required in order for an LPV approach to be designed to the lowest possible minimums -- in other words, does the absence of REILs constrain the LPV approach to higher minimums?  Do the minimums increase if the REILs are out of service?

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  1. John D. Collins on Dec 01, 2011

    REILs don’t affect the LPV minimums, however an approach lighting system does, such as ALSF-1, ALSF-2, SSALR, MALSR, MALSF, MALS, SSALF, SSALS, SALS/SALSF, or ODALS. To obtain the lowest LPV minimums, the runway must be at least 4200 feet long, it must have an approved approach lighting system, there must be a parallel taxiway, the markings on the runway must be precision markings, and the visual segment of the approach must be clear on a 34 to 1 slope. An example of the lowest possible minimums is the RNAV RWY 2 LPV at my airport at Rock Hill, SC (KUZA), where the minimums are a DH of 200 and a visibility of 1/2 mile. The runway is 5500 feet long, has a parallel taxiway, precision markings, a MALSR approach light system, and is clear on the 34 to 1 slope.  If the MALSR approach lights are out, the visibility penalty is 1/4 mile, or a total of 3/4 mile. A nearby airport, Lancaster, SC (KLKR) RNAV RWY 6 has a LPV. The runway is 6000 feet long, is clear on the 34 to 1 slope, has a parallel taxiway, but does not have precision markings or any approach light system. The minimums are a DH of 200 feet and visibility of 3/4 mile.  So in this case, the lack of the approach light system and the non precision runway markings provide the same minimums as if the approach light system were present, but out of service.

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