The Use of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) for Low-visibility Takeoffs in Part 121 Operations

Abstract

Twelve Part 121 operations commercial-carrier crews completed low-visibility takeoffs at Memphis International Airport using an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS). A 2x2x2x3 factorial design with runway visual range (RVR; 500 and 700 feet), runway edge lighting (high intensity or medium intensity) and two levels of EFVS (either captain’s head-up display only or with additional first officer’s head-down repeater) was used along with supplemental sample points and several baseline trials representing current-authorization conditions. Tasks included normal takeoffs, EFVS failure (both continue and reject trials), and engine failure (reject). There were no significant main effects of display or infrastructure in the main design (500, 700 RVR), and pilot performances in the experimental trials with EFVS were not markedly different from the baseline (current authorization) trials. All crews were able to stop the aircraft successfully on the runway during rejected takeoffs. Pilots uniformly believed they could successfully complete takeoffs or reject them in lower visibilities with EFVS as compared with using the head-up display without EFVS, which was sup-ported by observed performance.

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