Foggy Fiascos: Navigating the Dangers of Low Visibility at Airports this Winter

During winter, fog at airports can severely impact airline operations, leading to thousands of flight delays and cancellations globally. With cold temperatures and high humidity creating ideal conditions for fog formation, this season is particularly high-risk. When visibility drops below 600 meters at an airport, Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) are implemented to ensure safe aircraft movement on the airfield.

Running on the runway in low visibility conditions can be hazardous, prompting pilots to stop running and contact ATC to ensure safety. Takeoffs and landings require specific visibility criteria to be met at various points on the runway, with the runway needing to be clear until the aircraft is safely airborne or landed. Autopilot is often used for landing in low visibility areas, with airports needing landing support systems for safe landings in thick fog.

One of the foggiest airports in the world is Arcata-Eureka Airport in California, used by the US Navy for testing fog reduction systems and all-weather training. This highlights the challenges that fog presents in aviation operations and the importance of following specific procedures for safe takeoffs and landings in these conditions.

In addition to posing a risk to pilots and air traffic controllers during takeoff and landing procedures, dense fog can also impact air traffic control tower operators who must maintain visual contact with aircraft while providing communication assistance. The use of radar technology can help mitigate some of these risks by providing greater accuracy in tracking aircraft movements.

The challenges posed by dense fog are not limited to aviation operations alone. Fog can also disrupt transportation networks on roads and highways, causing accidents and delays that can have a ripple effect throughout other industries such as logistics and supply chain management.

In conclusion, dense fog poses significant risks to aviation operations worldwide. To minimize these risks, it is important for pilots, air traffic controllers, airport authorities, and other stakeholders to follow specific procedures for safe takeoffs and landings in low visibility conditions. Additionally, continued research into developing new technologies such as radar systems can help improve safety measures in these challenging weather conditions.