2006-12-22 07:56:40 · 9 answers · asked by big money 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
You are making an assumption about airplanes landing in fog that is not true. Alaska Airlines, for example, has planes and qualified pilots who can fly a Category 3 ILS (Instrument Landing System) Approach. Translated this means essential landing with no ceiling and no forward visibility. The autopilot takes the plane right onto the runway.
2006-12-22 09:55:22 · answer #1 · answered by Flyboy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Visibility is the main criteria.Fog means that the visibility is less than one Km.Some planes land even at 800 metre visibility.It depends upon the size of the aircraft and the airport concerned.There is one thing called RVR(runway visual range)whose value is given by instruments.This value is mainly taken into consideration while landing in fog. This value(in metres) is most of the times greater than the general visibility value.That means the visibility exactly over the runway will be better than the immediate adjacent area. As the runway is laid with concrete or made of 'thar' the fog formation over runway will be comparatively less and the visibility better .Only if this RVR value goes below a certain value the aircrafts are not allowed to land.
2006-12-26 08:36:18 · answer #2 · answered by Arasan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Planes can land in snow or fog as long as the minimum visibility is followed.
There are charts the pilots refer to for each airport that gives them information to decide if it is safe to land. Some aircraft can land in dense fog, however they still need to see the runway to taxi.
The decision heights are based on current observations at the airport and by reviewing the chart, the pilot has to make a decision with the MDH or minimum decision height and RVR runway visual range. These are updated hourly.
Snow is easier to see in, but with many aircraft having accidents in fog the FAA makes the decision quite clear for the pilot. The pilot has an alternate airfield he could land at if he could not land his aircraft safely.
2006-12-22 18:51:07 · answer #3 · answered by dyke_in_heat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is due to the fact that fog is low lying and by the time you are through it, you are low. Snow is a constant visual obscurment that can be seen through. They won't land in heavy snow. That is due to the runway being covered and lack of visibility
2006-12-22 16:09:25 · answer #4 · answered by Brendan D 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It all depends on the degree of visibility. If it's snowing too much, the planes can't land in snow.
2006-12-22 16:04:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's all a matter of visibility. They can't land in fog if they can't see the ground. They also can't land in snow unless it's plowed up or someone can tell them how deep it is. Obviously, they can't land in very deep snow as the wheels would get stuck.
2006-12-22 16:06:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
They can see the ground when there is snow. They can land when there is fog, just not dense fog. How can they land if they can't see the ground?
2006-12-22 16:02:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
They can, but if visibility is limited they may have to rely strictly on instruments.
2006-12-24 17:01:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
fog is thicker than snow...?
2006-12-22 16:00:52 · answer #9 · answered by chris102188 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋