• Connectors meet gradients standards
• Edge lighting, reflectors
• Determine if elevated lights are required due to snow or other factors
• Lighted connector taxiways must have the proper configuration of runway guard lights at the runway holding position (elevated or in-pavement)
• Taxiway centerline marking enhancements: 12-inch yellow reflective stripe with 6-inch black borders. Glass beads may be used to increase the conspicuity of markings (1.5 or 1.9 index of refraction)
• Taxiway designator markings
• Taxiway holding position markings and guidance signs
• Signs and marking denoting boundary of ILS critical area
• Surface painted holding position sign
• Vehicle roadway markings
• Movement area boundary markings
• Taxi guidance signs
• Taxi guidance markings C.2.6.3 Aprons/non-movement areas
• Appropriate lighting
• Taxi lanes, properly marked (reflective) and identified
• Vehicle roadway markings C.2.6.4 Inspection and monitoring of lights and visual aids
• Maintenance program within standards
• ATC Personnel training for use of system
• Monitoring within standards
• Inspection before entering low visibility conditions
• Re-inspection every four hours down to RVR 500 ft (150 m) C-3
C.2.6.5 Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)
• Review existing procedures and determine if enhancements are required
• ARFF should have a LVO/SMGCS annual training program C.2.6.6 Low Visibility Taxi Routes
• Determine primary and alternate exits from runway(s) and taxi route(s) in support of landing operations less than RVR 1200 ft (350 m) down to and including RVR 500 ft (150 m).
• Determine taxi route(s) and entrance(s) to runway(s) for takeoff operations less than RVR 1200 ft (350 m) down to and including RVR 500 ft (150 m). Consider exits and routes for runway abort.
• It is recommended not to have runway crossings at other than 90-degree intersections.
• Assure airport operators coordinate development of the LVO/SMGCS low visibility taxi routes chart(s).
C.2.6.7 Snow Removal Equipment
• Routing
• Priorities C.2.6.8 Re-Positioning of Aircraft
• Determine routes to be used
• Determine visibility limitations
• Determine taxi/tow/follow-me procedures for air carrier operators
• Determine follow-me procedures for Part 91 operators
• Determine specific operational limitations, i.e., no passengers on board
• Require personnel to have documented LVO/SMGCS training and use LVO/SMGCS low visibility taxi chart(s)
• Determine whether additional lighting; including stop bars, markings, signs, or restrictions are necessary C-4
C.2.6.9 Air Traffic Control Procedures
• Internal coordination procedures for monitoring visibility trends, and making decisions to initiate and terminate LVO/SMGCS operations down to and including RVR 500 ft (150 m)
• Procedures for notification of the airport operations and pilots of initiation or termination of specific LVO/SMGCS Plan operations, by landline, ATIS, NOTAM, or voice communication
• Procedures for surface movement surveillance
• Procedures for informing pilots of outages of required equipment by voice communications, ATIS, NOTAM, or TMS, as appropriate
• Review of procedures for coordinating ARFF response in low visibility conditions
• Procedures for coordinating airfield lighting inspections
• Procedures for use of emergency generator/alternate electrical source C.2.6.10 Detailed Airfield Lighting/Marking/Signs Diagrams
• Submit as an attachment to the LVO/SMGCS Plan C.2.6.11 LVO/SMGCS Low Visibility Taxi Routes Chart(s)
• Submit as an appendix to the LVO/SMGCS Plan C.2.6.12 Ensure NOTAM System Procedures Are Established and Understood.
• It can be critical to aircraft operational safety and capacity that pilots and dispatchers are timely made aware of outages in the LVO/SMGCS system which might adversely affect the usability of the lowest published landing and/or takeoff minima for a runway or airport. NFDC NOTAM issuance is critical to enable wide area distribution.
C.2.7 Submit LVO/SMGCS Plan to FAA For Review and Acceptance through Flight Technologies and Procedures Division.
• Host initial inspection of LVO/SMGCS
• Correct discrepancies in plan/system
• Receive LVO/SMGCS Plan "acceptance" notification
• Correct specified conditions C-5
C.2.8 Determine Readiness of LVO/SMGCS and Participants.
• Training reported as complete and documented by participating responsible entities.
• LVO/SMGCS taxi route(s) chart(s) distributed and available for airport vehicle operators.
C.2.9 Accomplish Regular Reviews of the LVO/SMGCS Plan.
• Maintain documentation of training for inspection under Part 139.
• Correct discrepancies discovered or brought to the attention of the Airport LVO/SMGCS Working Group Chair.
• Carry out planning for future LVO/SMGCS operational capabilities as listed in the plan or as agreed upon by the Airport LVO/SMGCS Working Group.
C-6
Appendix D. Checklist for LVO/SMGCS Operations Less Than RVR 500 Feet Th is sample checklist is provided for LVO/SMGCS operations less than RVR 500 ft (150 m).
We encourage you to use this checklist and tailor it to your specific airport and operational needs. Refer to appendix E, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport LVO/SMGS Plan, for an example of an accepted LVO/SMGCS Plan.
D.1 Signs, Markings, and Visual Aids.
D.1.1 Movement Area.
• Stop Bar Lights
• Runway guard lights
• Taxiway centerline lights
• Clearance bar lights
• Taxiway hold markings
• Surface painted direction or location signs
• Geographic position markings D.1.2 Non-movement Area.
• Taxiway centerline lights or taxiing assistance D.2 Guidelines and Review Items listed less than are in addition to Appendix C.
D.2.1 Considerations in Establishing and Maintaining a LVO/SMGCS Plan.
D.2.1.1 Runways
• Grooved (saw cut) surface or porous friction course (PFC) surface
• Number of runway exits (1 or 2; plus runway end) D.2.1.2 Taxiways
• Pavement fillets to enable oversteering on taxiway
• Centerline lighting recommended and should be continuous even when crossing a runway D-1
• Centerline lighted taxiways should be used unidirectional or be physically separated.
• Stop bar lights should be installed on all lighted taxiways at runway holding positions.
• Determine stop bars which are to be controllable or non-controllable by the ATCT.
• Determine where lead-on lighting to the runway will be associated with a controllable stop bar.
• At intersections offering a choice of routes, the angle of divergence must be clearly apparent, and distinct identification markings for each choice must be visible on the pavement, or the centerline lights must be controllable by the ATCT for channeling the aircraft in the cleared route direction.
• Alternating yellow/green centerline lights within the ILS critical area
• Clearance bar lights and markings
• Geographic position "pink spot" markings
• Taxi assistance available by follow-me or tow
• Use of glass beads or retroreflective paint markings for at least geographic position markings D.2.1.3 Aprons/non-movement areas
• Gate designators and lead in gate lead-in markings
• Apron Traffic Management Plan specifying restrictions, controls, ground support vehicle operations, training, and its documentation
• Taxi assistance available by follow-me, tow, and/or ground marshalling D.2.1.4 Inspection and monitoring of lights and visual aids
• Maintenance program within standards
• Monitoring within standards
• Inspection before entering low visibility conditions
• Re-inspection every two hours D-2
D.2.1.5 Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)
• Review existing procedures and determine if enhancements are required
• Consider pre-positioning of ARFF vehicle(s) as an option D.2.1.6 Surface Movement Surveillance System (SMSS)
• ASDE-X or equivalent installed in ATCT and functioning
• Backup system of geographical position "pink spot" markings, clearance bars, and hold markings associated with ATC’s geographic positioning procedures D.2.1.7 Low Visibility Taxi Routes
• Determine the exit from the runway(s) and the taxi route(s) in support of landing operations less than RVR 500 ft (150 m)
• Determine taxi route(s) and entrance(s) to runway(s) for takeoff operations less than RVR 500 ft (150 m)
• Determine taxi route(s) in support of re-positioning of aircraft from maintenance/parking areas to aprons
• Taxi routes should be physically separated or used unidirectional D.2.1.8 Snow Removal Equipment
• Routing
• Priorities D.2.1.9 Air Traffic Control Procedures
• Internal coordination procedures for monitoring visibility trends, and making decisions to initiate and terminate LVO/SMGCS operations less than 500 ft (150 m)
• Procedures for geographic positioning of aircraft, using the system of geographic position "pink spot" markings, clearance bars, holding positions, and voice communications D.2.1.10 Re-Positioning of Aircraft
• Determine routes to be used
• Determine visibility limitations D-3
• Determine taxi/tow/follow-me procedures for air carrier operators
• Determine follow-me procedures for Part 91 operators
• Determine specific operational limitations
• Document the LVO/SMGCS training and use LVO/SMGCS low visibility taxi chart(s) for ground personnel
• Determine whether additional lighting; including stop bars, markings, signs, or restrictions are necessary D.2.1.11 Air Traffic Control Procedures
• Internal coordination procedures for monitoring visibility trends, and making decisions to initiate and terminate LVO/SMGCS operations down to and including RVR 500 ft (150 m)
• Procedures for notification of the airport operations and pilots of initiation or termination of specific LVO/SMGCS Plan operations, by land-line, ATIS, NOTAM, or voice communication D.2.1.12 Detailed Airfield Lighting/Marking/Signs Diagrams
• Include in LVO/SMGCS Plan/chart D.2.1.13 Apron Management Plan D-4
Appendix E. ExaVo/SMSCs Plan and a International Airport The FAA wishes to acknowledge Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA) for providing the following LVO/SMGCS Plan as an example.
or — of Seattle
LOW VISIBILITY OPERATIONS -
SURFACE MOVEMENT GUIDANCE AND CONTROL SYSTEM PLAN
SEATTLE-TACOMA-INTERNATONAL AIRPORT October 9, 2020 Page 1 of 36 E-1
Port of Seattle® LVO/SMGCS Plan Revision Logs Date of Revision Revised Paragraph / Page 09/24/2014 2.23: Added statement regarding inoperative lights/signs, page 8 09/24/2014 6.5: Added statement regarding runway configuration, page 18 09/24/2014 Attachment 2: Corrected chart numbers 12/15/2014 Attachment 6: Letter of Agreement for LVO/SMGCS 09/17/2018 Temporary Amended SMGCS Plan for TWY B Closure, see separate page to be removed upon opening of TWY B.
Submitted May 10, 2018 11/30/2018 Temporary Amendment Cancelled 10/09/2020 Change all references of 600 RVR to 500 RVR: Paragraphs
3.2, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8, 3.13, 4.0, 6.2, 7.4, 7.5 10/09/2020 Miscellaneous typos throughout 10/09/2020 Paragraph 1.1: Update RVR and activation requirements 10/09/2020 Paragraph 2.1: Remove unnecessary text 10/09/2020 Paragraph 2.4: Change "start" box to "green" box 10/09/2020 Paragraph 2.15: Update RVR and activation requirements 10/09/2020 Paragraph 2.16: Add "alternating" and "yellow" to green lights 10/09/2020 Paragraph 2.23: Add in-pavement runway guard lights 10/09/2020 Paragraph 3.5: Update to in-pavement runway guard lights 10/09/2020 Paragraph 3.12: Update Opsnet to Communicator 10/09/2020 Paragraph 3.13: Update Opsnet to Communicator, Update ADM Phone number 10/09/2020 Paragraph 6.1: Change Ramp Control to Seattle Ramp Tower 10/09/2020 Paragraph 6.2: Update new runway use configurations 10/09/2020 Paragraph 6.4: Change Weyerhacuser to PACCAR 10/09/2020 Paragraph 6.5: Update new runway lighting configurations 10/09/2020 Paragraph 6.7: Add stop bar outage statement 10/09/2020 Paragraph 9.1: Add SMGCS upgrade to milestones 10/09/2020 Attachment 1: Update ADM Phone number and Communicator 10/09/2020 Attachment 5: Update Airfield Lighting Exhibits 10/09/2020 Attachment 7: Remove Serviceability Inspection Maps October 9, 2020 Page 2 of 36 E-2
Port z of Seattle® Revisions Prior to November 2013
• Change 1 is an update and administrative rewrite of the October 1, 1992 plan to more closely conform to the SMGCS Advisory Circular and to reflect current airfield configuration. Change 1 also includes updates to include the addition of new taxiways, the redesignation of taxiways, completion of milestones, clarification of follow-me procedures, and clarification of the sample Airline Ground Movement plan. Other than the requirement for ASDE-3 to be operational prior to commencing below 600-foot RVR operations.
Change 2 is noted in the footnotes and is denoted in reference to the new AC 120-57A. Changes are reflected only in definition and reflect no changes to philosophy or procedures established in the original plan 4/97.
Change 3 includes the addition of definitions for Clearance Box, Geographic Position Marking Runway Guard Lights and Stop Bar. References to Gate Designator Boxes were deleted per SMGCS Working Group decision 3/98. Addition information regarding follow-me service availability on the movement area was added. Start/Termination Box section amended to for clarity on transition of responsibilities 3/99.
Change 4 relates to taxiway designator changes of 1/16/00.
Change 5 relates to changes in: 1) Clarification that SMGCS operations commence when RVR is less than 1200, 2) NOTAM Procedures added, 3) Requirement for CAT II-qualified air carriers to maintain a SEA-specific Ground Movement Plan 11/01.
Change 6 includes the following changes: 1) Addition of controlled Stopbars on Taxiways M, N, P, Q; 2) Deletes Low Visibility Arrival Route "Termination Boxes", which will be modified to Geographic Position Markings; 3) All non-Low Visibility taxiways extinguish lighting when SMGCS program is initiated; 4) Deleted reference to below 1200 RVR takeoffs on Runways 34F & 34L 01/03.
Change 7 includes the following changes: 1) Revision of taxiway designators in accordance with SEA TWY Designator change of 10/30/03; 2) "Start Box" added to definitions section; 3) Additional non-controlled Stopbars on the east side of RWY 16L were added.
Change 8 includes the following changes: North Apron "Island" was completed creating clear delineation between Taxiway C and Taxiway D. The hardware infrastructure was installed for a stop bar system for both Taxiway C ad Taxiway D.
Change 9 includes the following changes: 1) Incorporation of RWY 16L departures below 600 feet RVR; 2) SMGCS operational restrictions for operations west of RWY 16R.
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Port Z of Seattle® Change 10 includes ASDE-X replacing ASDE3; transponder operation requirement for vehicles and towed aircraft on the movement area; inclusion of Ramp Control Facility, RWY 16L upgrade to CAT III b in 1/07.
Change 11 includes formatting changes; incorporation SMGCS surface use depictions; 3rd Runway Concept of Operations; start box color change; expanded definition of stop bars;
additional ARFF vehicle deployment when RVR < 600.
Change 12 includes inclusion of language to address activation of RWY 16R as part of the SMGCS system effective November 2008; modifications to General Aviation and Weyerhacuser procedures.
Change 13: No change from previous plan.
Change 14: Changes of terminology - 1) References to "Start Box" changed to Green Box; 2) References to AVINET changed to PASSUR.
Change 15: Name change to LVO/SMGCS; Miscellancous typographical updates; added revision log, removed reference to runways 34L, 34R, and 34C; added taxiway centerline marking description; updated NOTAM procedures; corrected taxiway lighting description; added functionality and serviceability inspection descriptions; added Attachment 6: LOA, and Attachment 7: Serviceability Guide.
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