Definition
The visibility along a specific runway, measured by a transmissometer or determined by other approved means, and reported in statute miles or fractions of a mile. RVV is used in place of prevailing visibility when reported for a particular runway, and is one of the visibility references controllers and pilots use to determine whether the runway meets the visibility minimums for takeoff or landing.
Plain English
How far you can see down a particular runway, given as a distance in miles. It applies just to that runway, not to the whole airport.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying, airport weather information, and low-visibility takeoff or landing decisions.
Derivation
“Visibility” comes from the idea of being able to see. In RVV, the important point is that the seeing distance is tied to one runway and is given as a measured value, not just a general description like “foggy” or “clear.”
Why Pilots Care
It directly determines whether visibility meets the minimums required for takeoff or landing on that runway.
Grounding Statement
On a foggy morning, the visibility near one runway may be different from the general airport visibility, so RVV focuses on the runway the pilot will actually use.
Intuition Check
Do not read RVV as a pilot’s personal guess about visibility. It is an instrument-measured visibility value for a particular runway.
Example Sentence 1
Tower reported the runway visibility value for Runway 27 as one and a half miles, which was above our landing minimum.
Example Sentence 2
We waited for the RVV to improve before attempting the ILS approach.