Whats with the dual PAPI's ?

777 · August 16th, 2006, 14:31

Greetings,

I was at the airliner.net website and seen dual PAPI systems on either side of the runway on a lot of photos, and it seems as this is only overseas. Does anyone have any information about this ? The only thing I can come up with is that it serves as a backup if the other one fails, or for possibly more precision when following the glideslope...don't quite know. I do know that they can't be relied on for obstacle clearance. Thanks.

flyTotheSky · August 16th, 2006, 14:41

You are probably seeing a variation of a VASI system and they are usually found everywhere. They can have lights on either side of the runway.

It's in the AIM Chapter 2.

ColMustard · August 16th, 2006, 15:46

Pretty sure one is for the glideslope for lower cockpit airplanes (GA aircraft), and the other is for the glideslope for the higher cockpit airplanes (B-747). I've never seen one runway with two PAPI's on either side, usually they are both on the same side, and then its referred to as the three-bar VASI.

Not positive on this, just a guess.

-ColM

777 · August 16th, 2006, 17:02

flytothesky I believe you are correct about the variation of the VASI system...here is a picture of what I am referring to..just type it in the browser it should work. I looked in the AIM CH 2 and it doesn't go into too much detail about the variation of PAPI systems..it only says its arranged in a single row of lights on one side of the runway...but when you look at the picture it has a single row of lights on both sides....I think its a cool pic.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0047556/M/

Bandit_Driver · August 16th, 2006, 17:27

Holy Crosswind.

NJA_Capt · August 16th, 2006, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0047556/M/

I stand corrected......Those low timed guys doing fine overseas. What were we thinking DE?

FlyChicaga · August 16th, 2006, 20:28

I'm going to assume that the dual-PAPI system you've shown here is airport specific for Hong Kong Kai Tak, due to the strange instrument approach procedure they have there.

MikeD · August 16th, 2006, 22:39

Reference my thread here. Last sentence of PAPI system talks about this.

http://www.jetcareers.com/forums/sho...719#post418719

August 16th, 2006, 14:31	#1
777 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 8	Whats with the dual PAPI's ? Greetings, I was at the airliner.net website and seen dual PAPI systems on either side of the runway on a lot of photos, and it seems as this is only overseas. Does anyone have any information about this ? The only thing I can come up with is that it serves as a backup if the other one fails, or for possibly more precision when following the glideslope...don't quite know. I do know that they can't be relied on for obstacle clearance. Thanks.

August 16th, 2006, 14:41	#2
flyTotheSky Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: LUK Posts: 381	Re: Whats with the dual PAPI's ? You are probably seeing a variation of a VASI system and they are usually found everywhere. They can have lights on either side of the runway. It's in the AIM Chapter 2.

August 16th, 2006, 15:46	#3
ColMustard Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 188	Re: Whats with the dual PAPI's ? Pretty sure one is for the glideslope for lower cockpit airplanes (GA aircraft), and the other is for the glideslope for the higher cockpit airplanes (B-747). I've never seen one runway with two PAPI's on either side, usually they are both on the same side, and then its referred to as the three-bar VASI. Not positive on this, just a guess. -ColM __________________ "Joey........you like movies about Gladiators?" -Capt. Clarence Oveur

August 16th, 2006, 17:02	#4
777 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 8	Re: Whats with the dual PAPI's ? flytothesky I believe you are correct about the variation of the VASI system...here is a picture of what I am referring to..just type it in the browser it should work. I looked in the AIM CH 2 and it doesn't go into too much detail about the variation of PAPI systems..it only says its arranged in a single row of lights on one side of the runway...but when you look at the picture it has a single row of lights on both sides....I think its a cool pic. http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0047556/M/

August 16th, 2006, 17:27	#5
Bandit_Driver Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DTW Posts: 1,797	Re: Whats with the dual PAPI's ? Holy Crosswind. __________________ OOTSK Logbook Pro - Electronic Pilots Logbook

August 16th, 2006, 20:28	#7
FlyChicaga Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,833	Re: Whats with the dual PAPI's ? I'm going to assume that the dual-PAPI system you've shown here is airport specific for Hong Kong Kai Tak, due to the strange instrument approach procedure they have there. __________________ "Anyone can do the job when things are going right. In this business we play for keeps." Ernest K. Gann

August 16th, 2006, 22:39	#8
MikeD Administrator Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pinal Airpark Posts: 6,897	Re: Whats with the dual PAPI's ? Reference my thread here. Last sentence of PAPI system talks about this. http://www.jetcareers.com/forums/sho...719#post418719 __________________ Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.

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