Who is the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) presentation format designed for, and why should pilots still maintain an understanding of it?

The presentation of the RCAM is appropriate for use by aerodrome personnel trained and competent in assessing runway condition in a way relevant to aircraft performance. While full implementation would eventually no longer require flight crew to derive the appropriate runway condition, it is desirable that pilots maintain an understanding of the performance effect of various components considered in the assessment.

When no Runway Condition Code (RWYCC) is available in winter conditions, what does the RCAM provide the flight crew to determine the RWYCC?

When no RWYCC is available in winter conditions, the RCAM provides the flight crew with a combination of relevant information (runway surface conditions: state and/or contaminant or pilot report of braking action (AIREP)) in order to determine the RWYCC.

According to Table 1, what RWYCC is associated with a runway surface condition of 'slippery wet'?

According to Table 1, the RWYCC associated with 'slippery wet' is 3.

For compacted snow at a depth of any amount, what are the possible RWYCC values and the temperature condition that determines which one applies?

For compacted snow at any depth, the RWYCC is 4 when at or below OAT - 15 °C, and 3 when above OAT - 15 °C. Note 3 states that the runway surface temperature should preferably be used where available.

What is the RWYCC for dry snow with a depth of more than 3 mm up to 100 mm, including when any depth occurs on top of compacted snow?

The RWYCC for dry snow with a depth of more than 3 mm up to 100 mm, including when any depth occurs on top of compacted snow, is 3.

What is the RWYCC for ice in cold and dry conditions, and what is the RWYCC for wet ice?

The RWYCC for ice in cold and dry conditions is 1. The RWYCC for wet ice is 0 (zero).

What is the RWYCC for slush with a depth of more than 3 mm up to 15 mm?

The RWYCC for slush with a depth of more than 3 mm up to 15 mm is 2.

What is the RWYCC for standing water with a depth of more than 3 mm up to 15 mm?

The RWYCC for standing water with a depth of more than 3 mm up to 15 mm is 2.

What is the RWYCC for wet snow with a depth of more than 3 mm up to 30 mm, including when any depth occurs on top of compacted snow?

The RWYCC for wet snow with a depth of more than 3 mm up to 30 mm, including when any depth occurs on top of compacted snow, is 3.

What is the RWYCC for frost, and what note is provided regarding frost conditions?

The RWYCC for frost is 5. Note 1 states that under certain conditions, frost may cause the surface to become very slippery.

What is the RWYCC for a runway that is 'wet' with a depth of 3 mm or less, including wet and contaminated runways below 25% coverage in each runway third?

The RWYCC for a runway that is 'wet' with a depth of 3 mm or less, including wet and contaminated runways below 25% coverage in each runway third, is 5.

What is the RWYCC for dry snow, slush, standing water, or wet snow with a depth of 3 mm or less?

For dry snow, slush, standing water, or wet snow with a depth of 3 mm or less, the RWYCC is 5.

What is the RWYCC for dry snow, slush, standing water, or wet snow when any depth occurs on top of ice?

For dry snow, slush, standing water, or wet snow when any depth occurs on top of ice, the RWYCC is 0 (zero). Note 2 states that operations in conditions where less-than-poor braking action prevails are prohibited.

Under what specific condition may the RWYCC of a runway contaminated with compacted snow or ice be upgraded to RWYCC 4, and what is required for this upgrade?

When the aerodrome operator is approved for operations on specially prepared winter runways, in accordance with Annex V (Part-ADR.OPS) to Regulation (EU) No 139/2014, the RWYCC of a runway contaminated with compacted snow or ice may be upgraded to RWYCC 4 depending upon a specific treatment of the runway. In such cases, the reason for the upgrade will be specified in the 'situational awareness' section of the RCR.

GM1 NCC.OP.225 Approach and landing conditions -- aeroplanes

Q: What are the two sections of the Runway Condition Report (RCR) and what type of information does each contain?

The RCR is divided into the 'aircraft performance' section, which contains information directly relevant to performance computation, and the 'situational awareness' section, which contains information the flight crew should be aware of for safe operation but which does not have a direct impact on the performance assessment.

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GM1 NCC.OP.225 Approach and landing conditions — aeroplanes

ED Decision 2021/005/R

LANDING DISTANCE

The assessment of the LDTA begins with the acquisition of the latest available weather information and the RCR. The information provided in the RCR is divided in two sections:

(a) The ‘aircraft performance’ section which contains information that is directly relevant in a performance computation.

(b) The ‘situational awareness’ section which contains information that the flight crew should be aware of for a safe operation, but which does not have a direct impact on the performance assessment.

The ‘aircraft performance’ section of the RCR includes a runway condition code (RWYCC), the contaminant type, depth and coverage for each third of the runway.

The determination of the RWYCC is based on the use of the runway condition assessment matrix (RCAM); however, the presentation of the information in the RCAM is appropriate for use by aerodrome personnel trained and competent in assessing the runway condition in a way that is relevant to aircraft performance. While full implementation of the RCAM standard would eventually no longer require the flight crew to derive from various information available to them the appropriate runway condition to be used for the landing performance assessment at the time of arrival, it is desirable that pilots maintain an understanding of the performance effect of various components considered in the assessment.

It is the task of the aerodrome personnel to assess the appropriate RWYCC in order to allow the flight crew to assess any potential change of the runway in use. When no RWYCC is available in winter conditions, the RCAM provides the flight crew with a combination of the relevant information (runway surface conditions: state and/or contaminant or pilot report of braking action (AIREP)) in order to determine the RWYCC.

Table 1 below is an excerpt of the RCAM and permits to carry out the primary assessment based on the reported contaminant type and depth, as well as on the OAT.

Table 1: Association between the runway surface condition and the RWYCC based on the reported contaminant type and depth and OAT

Runway surface condition	Surface condition descriptor	Depth	Notes	RWYCC
Dry		n/a		6
Wet	Damp (any visible dampness)	3 mm or less	Including wet and contaminated runways below 25 % coverage in each runway third	5
Wet	Wet	3 mm or less		5
Slippery wet				3
Contaminated	Compacted snow	Any	At or below OAT – 15 °C ³	4
	Compacted snow	Any	Above OAT – 15 °C ³	3
	Dry snow	3 mm or less		5
		More than 3 mm up to 100 mm	Including when any depth occurs on top of compacted snow	3
		Any	On top of ice	0²
	Frost¹	Any		5
	Ice	Any	In cold and dry conditions	1
	Slush	3 mm or less		5
	Slush	More than 3 mm up to 15 mm		2
	Standing water	3 mm or less		5
		More than 3 mm up to 15 mm		2
		Any	On top of ice	0²
	Wet ice	Any		0²
	Wet snow	3 mm or less		5
		More than 3 mm up to 30 mm	Including when any depth occurs on top of compacted snow	3
		Any	On top of ice	0²

Note 1: Under certain conditions, frost may cause the surface to become very slippery.

Note 2: Operations in conditions where less-than-poor braking action prevails are prohibited.

Note 3: The runway surface temperature should preferably be used where available.

A primary assessment may have to be downgraded by the aerodrome operator based on an AIREP of lower braking action than the one typically associated with the type and depth of contaminant on the runway.

Upgrading a RWYCC 5, 4, 3 or 2 determined by the aerodrome operator from the observed contaminant type is not allowed.

A RWYCC 1 or 0 maybe be upgraded by the aerodrome operator to a maximum of RWYCC 3. The reason for the upgrade will be specified in the ‘situational awareness’ section of the RCR.

When the aerodrome operator is approved for operations on specially prepared winter runways, in accordance with Annex V (Part-ADR.OPS) to Regulation (EU) No 139/2014, the RWYCC of a runway that is contaminated with compacted snow or ice, may be upgraded to RWYCC 4 depending upon a specific treatment of the runway. In such cases, the reason for the upgrade will be specified in the ‘situational awareness’ section of the RCR.

Details

Source-Title: GM1 NCC.OP.225 Approach and landing conditions -- aeroplanes View latest amendments

Erulesid: ERULES-1963177438-18496 Compare versions

Domain: Air operations

Applicabilitydate: 24 April, 2021

Entryintoforcedate: 24 April, 2021

Regulatorysource: ED Decision 2021/005/R Navigate

Regulatorysubject: Part-NCC

Typeofcontent: GM to IR (Guidance material to implementing rule)

Parentir: NCC.OP.225 Approach and landing conditions -- aeroplanes and helicopters

Origin: EASA

Category: EAR