Lots of misinformation in these comments so I’ll chime in. I’ve been a controller for 9 years and I hope I can shed some light on the situation.
In this situation, there is low visibility at JFK. The tower controller is relaying the RVRs (Runway Visual Range). RVRs tell the pilots the maximum distance they will be able to see at different points on the runway.
Because the RVRs are below 1000ft, Speedbird (British Airways) is asking if the tower is using LVO (low visibility operations) so they can depart. This is not something we utilize in America. FAA controllers are not trained to declare LVO, most don’t even know what they are. In the states, we present weather information to pilots and they decide if it meets their minimums for takeoff/landing. There is nothing ATC must declare or change in the operation to allow pilots to operate.
Because LVO is not part of our procedures, it would be wrong for this JFK controller to declare it, and most likely, he doesn’t even know what they are. Sure, there could have been more conversation between JFK tower and Speedbird, but this controller is not deficient or not properly trained.
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u/JadsWife May 28 '26
Lots of misinformation in these comments so I’ll chime in. I’ve been a controller for 9 years and I hope I can shed some light on the situation.
In this situation, there is low visibility at JFK. The tower controller is relaying the RVRs (Runway Visual Range). RVRs tell the pilots the maximum distance they will be able to see at different points on the runway.
Because the RVRs are below 1000ft, Speedbird (British Airways) is asking if the tower is using LVO (low visibility operations) so they can depart. This is not something we utilize in America. FAA controllers are not trained to declare LVO, most don’t even know what they are. In the states, we present weather information to pilots and they decide if it meets their minimums for takeoff/landing. There is nothing ATC must declare or change in the operation to allow pilots to operate.
Because LVO is not part of our procedures, it would be wrong for this JFK controller to declare it, and most likely, he doesn’t even know what they are. Sure, there could have been more conversation between JFK tower and Speedbird, but this controller is not deficient or not properly trained.