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Post by johnl on Jan 2, 2009 12:58:35 GMT -5
If this is your first GAAR, or you are otherwise unaccustomed to the minutiae of Aviation Oz-style, please be aware that Australia invented it's own (technically superior) system of approach lights called a T-VASI which is still installed at some airfields. For those only used to PAPI and VASI lights, T-VASI can come as a shock, especially as the lights for a perfect T-VASI approach looks like a high PAPI-2 approach.
1) T-VASI only uses WHITE lights (no REDS).
2) If you see what looks like a capital T, with 2 lights in the crossbar, and 1/2/3 lights in the upright, you are SLIGHTLY LOW/LOW/VERY LOW.
3) If you only see 2 lights side-by-side you are on the glide slope (unless they've installed PAPI-2).
4) If you see what looks like an upside-down capital T, with 2 lights in the crossbar, and 1/2/3 lights in the upright, you are SLIGHTLY HIGH/HIGH/VERY HIGH.
Unfortunately, I can't remember which airfields use which approach systems, but it probably wouldn't hurt to take a pre-flight looksee (unless, like me, you're English, and consider that such tactics would "spoil the fun").
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Post by sentinel on Jan 5, 2009 1:17:20 GMT -5
Thanks John for the heads up on this as it would have been a shock and confusing at best. I am not English but an Expat American living in the Philippines but have the same point of view as you about not taking a pre-flight looksee(it would ruin the fun!). The Philippines uses the PAPI system and I can not recall any other country using the T-VASI system. Is there other countries using this system besides Australia?
Later, Ed Bleck
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Post by Andrew Godden on Jan 5, 2009 1:28:02 GMT -5
Thanks John for the heads up on this as it would have been a shock and confusing at best. I am not English but an Expat American living in the Philippines but have the same point of view as you about not taking a pre-flight looksee(it would ruin the fun!). The Philippines uses the PAPI system and I can not recall any other country using the T-VASI system. Is there other countries using this system besides Australia? Later, Ed Bleck Ed, The international airport in Tonga also has them, but as far as I know, that's it.
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