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ground visibility

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ground visibility

[′grau̇nd ‚viz·ə′bil· əd·ē]
(meteorology)
In aviation terminology, the horizontal visibility observed at the ground, that is, surface visibility or control-tower visibility.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

ground visibility

The visibility at an aerodrome, as reported by an accredited observer (ICAO). The visibility is contained in a weather observation reported by an ATC (air traffic control) unit, an FSS (flight service station), a community aerodrome radio station, an automated weather observation system, or a radio station that is ground-based and operated by an air operator. It is the prevailing horizontal visibility near the earth's surface as reported by an accredited observer or given by the RVR (runway visual range).
An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
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References in periodicals archive
Another requirement is that the reported ground visibility at the destination airport must be at least one statute mile.
The contact approach: an often misunderstood outlier of IFR flight, the contact approach can be useful in certain, carefully selected situations
The ground visibility as determined by a certified weather observer.
The quiz
"Controlling visibility is not ground visibility, as reflected by the RVR values, but rather flight visibility as measured from the cockpit of the aircraft." In this case, the pilot has the runway in sight.
Legal Interpretations: some of the regs are so confusing or vague that you simply want to go to the source for guidance. that guidance is regulatory and you should know what they've been saying
If taking off or landing at an airport, any officially reported ground visibility at the airport (such as a METAR) must also be at least one mile.
ATC's side of special VFR: reduced weather minimums mean increased restrictions on ATC. Sometimes Special VFR can help you out, but sometimes it gets in the way and means long delays
What bothered me was how we'd stay legal to land in the control zone, at which time we'd need at least a 1000-foot ceiling and three miles of ground visibility or, an ATC clearance for special VFR.
Busting the control zone: you know the ceiling and vis requirements for Class E to the surface, right? Don't forget them when you're scud running at 180 knots
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