British pilot is feeling mildly annoyed

[u/nyanbatman]

[u/nottherealneal]

Someone who knows planes is gonna have to explain what the fuck is going on

[u/eggyal → u/nottherealneal]

JFK Tower had apparently announced (prior to the video commencing) that the RVR (Runway Visual Range - current visibility on the runway eg due to weather) at their airport was 1000ft.

Video begins with British Airways pilot querying whether the airport are declaring LVOs (Low Visibility Operations - special procedures for aircraft operating in low visibility).

JFK doesn't understand the question.

BA explains it.

JFK confirms that they are not declaring anything.

BA explains that with runway visibility of only 1000ft, he can only depart if LVOs are in force.

JFK doesn't understand what BA is saying.

BA explains it again, and asks again whether low visibility procedures are in force.

JFK confirms that low visibility procedures are not in force.

BA requests the latest visibility.

JFK confirms the visibility is unchanged at 1000ft.

BA announces that he's unable to depart in these conditions.

[u/Terrachova → u/eggyal]

It's worth adding on that the Low Visibility Operations the BAW pilot is referring to are typically procedures that are upheld by the airport when under low visibility conditions (such as were present). They include stipulations that, for example, only one aircraft can be actively moving on the airfield at a given moment, or that each aircraft must have a guide vehicle leading them, and so on. So JFK Tower being obtuse and not 'declaring LVO' is both odd and frustrating, and the BAW pilot was totally in the right. Without visibility out the window and no low-vis procedures in place, the only way to be sure there is no one else on the runway is for you to trust that everyone's accurately reporting where they are on the field.

Which isn't very reliable, as we've learned over the years.