KEY TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
(Document: On Improving Requirements for Civil Aerodrome Runways, Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, November 29).
Aerodrome - a land or water area specially prepared and equipped to support the takeoff, landing, taxiing, parking, and servicing of aircraft. A joint aerodrome - an aerodrome designed to support flights and permanently accommodate aircraft operated by various agencies.
Aerodrome pavement - the top layer of an aerodrome's surface, directly bearing the loads and impacts of aircraft, operational factors, and natural factors.
Aerodrome radio beacon - equipment that marks individual obstacles or other characteristic points in the aerodrome approach area.
Runway - the main part of an aerodrome's runway, designed to support the takeoff roll and landing roll of aircraft.
A non-instrument runway is a runway intended for aircraft performing a visual approach.
An instrument runway is one of the following types of runways intended for aircraft performing an instrument approach: - Instrument approach runway. A runway equipped with visual aids and some type of non-visual aid providing, at a minimum, guidance to the aircraft in the direction of a straight-in approach; - Precision approach runway, Category I. A runway equipped with a radio beacon system and visual aids intended for approaches to a decision height of 60 m and either a visibility of at least 800 m or a runway visual range of at least 550 m; - Precision approach runway, Category II. A runway equipped with a radio beacon system and visual aids intended for approach to a decision altitude less than 60 m but not less than 30 m and with a runway visual range of not less than 350 m. - Category III precision approach runway. A runway equipped with a radio beacon system operating up to and along the entire surface of the runway and intended: IIIA - for approach and landing with a decision altitude less than 30 m or without decision altitude limitation and with a runway visual range of not less than 200 m; IIIB - for approach and landing with a decision altitude less than 15 m or without decision altitude limitation and with a runway visual range less than 200 m but not less than 50 m; IIIC - for approach and landing without decision altitude and runway visual range limitations.
Visibility is the maximum distance from which unlit objects (landmarks) can be seen and identified during the day and illuminated landmarks at night. Note: In instrumental measurements, visibility refers to the meteorological optical range (MOR). Vertical visibility is the maximum distance from the ground to the level from which objects on the ground are visible vertically downward. Runway visibility (RWY) is the maximum distance within which the pilot of an aircraft on the runway centerline can see the runway pavement markings or the lights that delimit the runway or indicate its centerline.
Relative humidity is the ratio of the actual absolute humidity to the absolute humidity for saturation at the same temperature. Expressed as a percentage.
Aerodrome altitude is the absolute altitude of the highest point of the runway(s). Height of cloud base (HCB) is the vertical distance between the land (water) surface and the base of the lowest cloud layer.
Decision height (DH) is the established relative altitude at which a go-around maneuver must be initiated if, before reaching this altitude, the pilot-in-command has not established the necessary visual contact with reference points to continue the approach, or if the aircraft's position relative to the assigned flight path does not ensure a safe landing. Primary runway (PR) is the runway at an aerodrome, typically located in the direction of the prevailing winds and having the greatest length under standard conditions. ILS glide path (GPS) is the geometric locus of points in the vertical plane passing through the runway centerline at which the difference in modulation depth is zero and which form the smallest angle with the horizontal plane.
Instrument runway - one of the following types of runways intended for aircraft performing instrument approaches: - Instrument approach runway. A runway equipped with visual aids and some type of non-visual aid providing at least guidance to the aircraft in the direction of a straight-in approach; - Precision approach runway, category I. A runway equipped with a radio beacon system and visual aids intended for approach to a decision height of 60 m and either with a visibility of at least 800 m or a runway visual range of at least 550 m; - Precision approach runway, category II. A runway equipped with a radio beacon system and visual aids intended for approach to a decision height of less than 60 m but not less than 30 m and with a runway visual range of not less than 350 m; - Category III precision approach runway. A runway equipped with a radio beacon system operating up to and along the entire surface of the runway and intended: IIIA - for approach and landing with a decision height of less than 30 m or with no decision height limitation and with a runway visual range of not less than 200 m; IIIB - for approach and landing with a decision height of less than 15 m or with no decision height limitation and with a runway visual range of less than 200 m but not less than 50 m; IIIC - for approach and landing with no decision height or runway visual range limitation. Visibility is the maximum distance from which unlit objects (landmarks) can be seen and identified during the day and illuminated landmarks at night. Note: For instrumental measurements, visibility refers to the meteorological optical range (MOR). Vertical visibility is the maximum distance from the ground to the level from which objects on the earth's surface are visible vertically downward. Runway visibility (RWY) is the maximum distance within which the pilot of an aircraft on the runway center line can see the runway pavement markings or the lights that limit the runway or indicate its centerline.
Relative humidity is the ratio of the actual absolute humidity to the absolute humidity for saturation at the same temperature. Expressed as a percentage.
Aerodrome altitude is the absolute altitude of the highest point of the runway(s). Height of cloud base (HCB) is the vertical distance between the land (water) surface and the base of the lowest cloud layer. Decision height (DH) is the established relative altitude at which a go-around maneuver must be initiated if, before reaching this altitude, the pilot-in-command has not established the necessary visual contact with reference points to continue the approach, or if the aircraft's position relative to the assigned flight path does not ensure a safe landing. Primary runway (PR) is the runway at an aerodrome, typically located in the direction of the prevailing winds and having the greatest length under standard conditions. ILS glide path (GPS) is the geometric locus of points in the vertical plane passing through the runway centerline at which the difference in modulation depth is zero and which form the smallest angle with the horizontal plane.
Aerodrome pressure is the atmospheric pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or hectopascals (hPa) at the runway threshold. Runway threshold pressure is the atmospheric pressure measured at the primary pressure transducer and normalized to the runway threshold.
Air traffic control tower is the air traffic controller's workstation, equipped with the necessary equipment for air traffic control.
Takeoff and landing zone is the airspace