Runway Surface Condition Assessment and Reporting

Adverse runway surface conditions, notably contamination with standing water, snow, slush or ice, play a major role in a lot of safety events at aerodromes. A contributing factor is the non-standardized way of runway surface condition assessment and reporting, leaving pilots without reliable information to carry out their performance calculations.

For this reason, ICAO has implemented a package of amendments for a new Global Reporting Format (GRF) for Runway Surface Conditions, effective since November 2021, involving several ICAO Annexes, Manuals and the PANS-Aerodromes. The changes are mainly based on the FAA initiative to implement a standardized format for assessing and reporting runway surface conditions, called TALPA (Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment).

EASA has introduced these changes in Regulation (EU) 2020/2148 applicable from 12th of August 2021, amending Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 and associated AMCs and GMs and CS-ADR-DSN.

Airport operators are faced with the challenge to understand and implement the new rules, particularly the shift from a mainly friction measurement based runway evaluation towards a broader assessment of runway condition to issue a Runway Condition Report (RCR). Procedures and technical equipment must meet the needs for the timely provision of runway state information.

During this 2-day course participants will become familiar with the new Runway Condition Matrix (RCAM) and Code (RWYCC) and the Global Reporting Format (GRF) and will learn how to assess adequately the runway condition and how to prepare the Runway Condition Report. The participants from aerodrome safety and operations departments will learn from pilot’s perspective, what is relevant for flight crew and what is the impact on aircraft performance. Operative personnel, Safety and Operations Managers as well as pilots will gain an understanding of the changes, learn how to use the new format and profit from a cross-stakeholder exchange of experience.