During the winter months, airline operations at airports worldwide can be significantly impacted by fog. The cold temperatures and high humidity increase the risk of fog, leading to delays and cancellations. When visibility drops below 600 meters, airports implement Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) to ensure safe operations for aircraft.
Pilots and air traffic controllers face challenges when running on the runway in foggy conditions. They rely on maps and limited communications due to poor visibility, making it difficult to see everything clearly. Pilots must reach directional points further than usual during takeoff for maximum distance and safety, as entering the runway in low visibility conditions can be dangerous. To ensure a safe takeoff, each aircraft has a minimum visibility requirement that must be met at all points on the runway before the plane can begin its roll.
Landing in fog requires pilots to use autopilot mode and a landing support system to connect with the aircraft during the approach. The Arcata-Eureka Airport in California is known as one of the foggiest airports in the world, with the US Navy using it for fog testing and all-weather training. Fog can have a significant impact on flight operations at any airport, requiring special procedures and careful monitoring by pilots and ATC to ensure safe takeoff and landing in low visibility conditions.
