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{{Short description|Visual aid in aviation}}
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[[Image:PAPI Jersey Airport.JPG|thumb|The PAPI can be seen to the right (non-standard) side of the runway. The aircraft is slightly below the glideslope.]]
A '''precision approach path indicator''' ('''PAPI''') is a system of [[Electric light|lights]] on the side of an airport [[runway]] threshold that provides visual [[descent (aircraft)|descent]] guidance information during [[final approach]]. It is generally located on the left-hand side of the runway approximately {{convert|300
==Design and installation==
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Each light unit consists of one or more light sources, red filters and lenses. A color filter may not be necessary with colored LED lights. Each light unit emits a high-intensity beam. The lower segment of the beam is red, and the upper part is white. The transition between the two colours must take place over an angle not greater than three minutes of arc. This characteristic makes the color change very conspicuous, a key feature of the PAPI signal. To form the PAPI guidance signal, the color transition boundaries of the four units are fixed at different angles. The lowest angle is used for the unit furthest from the runway, the highest for the unit nearest to the runway. The designated glideslope is midway between the second and third light unit settings.
A PAPI installation consists of a bar of four units. Units should be [[Frangibility|frangible]] but not susceptible to [[jet blast]]. The inner edge of the PAPI installation should be situated {{convert|15
The PAPI should be located on the left-hand side of the runway at right angles to the runway center line, although can be located on the right-hand side of the runway if required. The red lights are always
The optimum distance from the runway threshold depends on the wheel clearance over the threshold of the types of aircraft expected to land on the runway; compatibility with non-visual glide paths such as [[instrument landing system]] (ILS) down to the minimum possible range and height; and any difference in elevation between the PAPI installation and the runway threshold. This optimum distance may be adjusted depending on runway length and obstacle clearance. Harmonisation between PAPIs and an ILS system must take into account the distance between eye height and ILS receiver height for various aircraft.<ref name="ICAO"/>{{rp|
For a typical 3 degree [[approach slope]], PAPI lights should be angled as follows: 3°30', 3°10', 2°50', 2°30' (3.50°, 3.17°, 2.83°, 2.50°).<ref name="ICAO"/>{{rp|
==Interpretation==
[[File:comparison_visual_landing_systems.svg|thumb|250px|Comparison of
The ratio of white to red lights seen is dependent on the angle of approach to the runway. Above the designated [[glide slope]] a pilot will see more white lights than red; below the ideal angle more red lights than white will be seen. At the optimum approach angle the ratio of white to red lights will be equal, for most aircraft.
Student pilots in initial training may use the mnemonic
* WHITE on WHITE
* RED on WHITE – "You're all right"
* RED on RED – "You're dead" (too low)
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[[Image:PAPI M39.jpg|thumb|Individual precision approach path indicator]]
PAPIs are calibrated relative to the Minimum Eye Height over Threshold (MEHT).<ref name="ICAO">{{cite book |title=ICAO Doc 9157, Aerodrome Design Manual. Fifth edition, 2021. Part 4, Visual Aids. Chapter 8 |publisher=ICAO |url=http://icscc.org.cn/upload/file/20220712/20220712090914_13813.pdf |access-date=1 March 2023 |archive-date=1 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301152804/http://icscc.org.cn/upload/file/20220712/20220712090914_13813.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> For certain aircraft with a low pilot eye height, the pilot will see a "slightly low" indication even though they are on the ILS glideslope.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://
The light characteristics of all light units are identical. In good visibility conditions the guidance information can be used at ranges up to {{convert|5|mi|km}} by day and night. At night the light bars can be seen at ranges of at least {{convert|20|mi|km}}.
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The precision approach path indicator system was first devised in 1974 by Tony Smith and David Johnson at the [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]] in Bedford, England. It took them a further two years to fully develop the technology. Engineering firm Research Engineers (RE) were also heavily involved in the project, having produced and supplied PAPI units for the first trials that were conducted. The same design is still in use today.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.research-engineers.com/about_papi.html |title=Research Engineers PAPI |access-date=2017-05-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125163859/http://research-engineers.com/about_papi.html |archive-date=2014-01-25 }}</ref>
Smith and Johnson's work was honoured by a commendation from the RAE, a Fellowship from the Aeronautical Society, an award from the American Flight Safety Foundation, and a Gold Medal from the British Guild of Air Pilots.{{
PAPIs were used by NASA's Space Shuttle for its safe landing, for which Johnson was interviewed by UK local news media and TV.{{
An earlier glideslope indicator system, the [[visual approach slope indicator]] (VASI), only provided guidance down to heights of {{convert|60|m|ft|sigfig=1}} whereas PAPI provides guidance down to flare initiation (typically {{convert|15|m|ft|sigfig=1|disp=x|, or }}).{{
2008 saw the advent of new PAPI devices manufactured using solid state [[LED lamp]]s instead of [[incandescent lamp]]s. The LEDs produce sufficient brightness to satisfy ICAO light intensity and beamspread standards, and average lifetime with the LED based systems is 50,000 hours or more. By using LEDs, the device's power consumption is lowered considerably. The LED systems run internally on DC voltage, so the DC voltage requirements, along with the LEDs' inherently low power consumption, now allow for solar-powered PAPIs, enabling them to function completely independently of a power grid.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightlight.com/airportlighting/4.0.1/4.0.1.html |title=Solar PAPI & APAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) |access-date=2012-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230132434/http://www.flightlight.com/airportlighting/4.0.1/4.0.1.html |archive-date=2011-12-30 }}</ref>
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* [[Optical landing system]]
* [[Leading lights]]
==References==
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[[Category:Airport lighting]]
[[Category:British inventions]]
[[Category:Types of final approach (aviation)]]
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