What does "RW 18 PAPI unusable beyond 7 deg right of centerline" mean to you?

[luvflyin]

That's my kind of manager! Sounds like something I would do too! Tree in the way, let me get my saw!

You talkin’ going full on Elon….

 

[RussR]

The correct answer is not there.

The PAPI should not or cannot be used if you are more than 7 degrees to the right. It gives no information about the visibility or about the cause. Unusable has multiple possible causes, all of which come back to "don't use it."

If you’re talking about the poll, the correct answer certainly is there, it’s the first one. If you are commenting, like @MauleSkinner pointed out, on the “what does it mean to YOU” aspect of the question, well, I did provide an “other” option, so it seems that’s covered as well.

I checked with some coworkers, and as far as we know, there are no other agencies or offices or people that would place such a restriction on a PAPI other than us. We have no idea why anybody would even want to do so, that is one of the main purposes for us showing up at a new installation. And the only way we establish such a restriction is if the lights are correctly baffled to completely prevent use outside of that angle. So unless something actually were to happen to the baffle plates, if you can see the lights, you are within the usable angles.

 

[RussR]

I would also add, knowing that @RussR has the power to change these things, verbiage to he effect that the PAPI is baffled to block usability beyond 7 degrees right of centerline would be more useful.

Unfortunately neither @RussR nor I have enough pull with ICAO and the FAA to change NOTAM formatting.

Clearly you two have completely opposite views of my importance in the organization.

I’m not going to say which of you is more correct. But yeah, you know!

 

[MauleSkinner]

Clearly you two have completely opposite views of my importance in the organization.

“The organization?” I thought you worked for the FAA. That sounds more like an organized crime syndicate.

 

[RussR]

“The organization?” I thought you worked for the FAA. That sounds more like an organized crime syndicate.

I think I will start referring to it as "the syndicate" from now on.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I think I will start referring to it as "the syndicate" from now on.

No political posts allowed here!

 

[MauleSkinner]

No political posts allowed here!

So calling it “The FAA” is not allowed?

 

[JVerb]

The reason that NOTAM is there is because someone installed the PAPI before the latest EB 95 came out in 2017, and so now it doesn't reach as far on the right side of centerline as it's supposed to. If installed back then to the FAA diagrams, it's my understanding the lateral angles will be off on the right side.

I know of several airports this happened to, though I still contend it's more of a installation error than a design error, because the laterals are performance requirements of the install.

The good news is, if you can see the PAPI, you can use the PAPI. The lateral angles just means you'll see it sooner on your base turn before final. If you don't, it's still useable as soon as you do see it.