The RCAM and Runway

Condition Report (RCR)

Nika Meheza MANZI

Deputy Regional Director
Western & Central African Office

Virtual / May 2021

 Overview
• Components of the RCAM
• Using of the RCAM
• The Runway Condition Report
 Objective
• Describe key elements of the RCAM
• Explain how to generate, downgrade or
upgrade a RWYCC
• Describe how to use the RCAM to assess
and report on runway surface condition
 GRF Information Flow
ANSP Aircraft Operator
Airport Operator Airport Operator
(AIS/ATC)
- Monitor & - RCAM - SNOWTAM - Dispatch
Assess the - RWYCCs - ATIS - Pilots
RSCs and - RCR
changes
- Upgrade/ - AIREP - AIREP
downgrade
RWYCCs
 The runway condition assessment
matrix (RCAM)
A matrix allowing the
assessment of the runway
condition code, using
associated procedures,
from a set of observed
runway surface
condition(s) and pilot
report of braking action.
 RCAM
• The method to be used by
airport operators to report
runway surface conditions when
contaminated
• Clearly identifies factors that
influence aircrafts takeoff and
landing performance, particularly
braking performance
• It relates these factors to
RWYCC that can be used by
flight crews to interpret the
runway conditions and support
their pre-landing and pre-
departure assessments
Downgrade assessment criteria
Provides the assessment criteria allowing the
airport operator to further assess the runway and
validate the RWYCC. It includes:
• The column to be used by the pilot to rate the
estimated aeroplane braking performance on a
given contaminant and estimate a runway braking
action category based on six descriptions
• A report of braking action on the runway by a pilot,
providing other pilots with an indication of the
degree/quality of expected braking
The use of any available means of assessing
runway slipperiness should be considered to
support the decision for downgrading or upgrading
RWYCC
Assessment criteria
The two columns are used to determine the correct
RWYCC
• This column describes runway surface conditions and
contaminants (least to most slippery) that are directly
correlated to aeroplane takeoff and landing performance.
Contaminants have different effects depending on their
depth and outside air temperature.
• This column represents the RWYCC that is associated
with the relevant runway surface description based on the
type of contaminant on the runway, its depth and the
outside air temperature.
A RWYCC is reported to each third of the runway
assessed. The direction for listing the runway thirds shall
be in the direction as seen from the lower runway
designation number
 Using of RCAM
Airports operator need to assess and
collect data on:
• The percentage of each runway third that is covered by
contaminants
• The runway surface condition and type of contaminants
• The depth of the contaminants
 Using of RCAM
The percentage of runway covered by contaminants

 If 25 per cent or less area of a runway third is wet or covered by contaminant, a

RWYCC 6 shall be reported.
 If the distribution of the contaminant is not uniform, the location of the area that is wet
or covered by the contaminant is described in the plain language remarks part of the
situational awareness section of the runway condition report.
 Using of RCAM
Runway surface conditions
– There are four runway surface conditions in the RCAM:

• Dry
• Wet
• Slippery wet
• Contaminated runway
 Using of RCAM
Runway surface conditions
• Dry
 A runway is considered dry if its surface is free from visible moisture and not
contaminated within the area intended to be used.
 The RWYCC for a Dry Runway is 6
 A dry surface must be reported only when there is a need to report conditions
on one or more of the other thirds
 A dry surface will be report where the report is the last, final report that closes
a period in which the runway was contaminated
 Using of RCAM
Runway surface conditions
• Wet
 A runway is considered wet when it is covered by any visible dampness or
water that is 3 mm or less in depth.
 The RWYCC for a Wet Runway is 5
 Wet runway assessments do not necessary require direct observation of all
affected pavements surfaces
 Credible evidence of wet conditions such as receiving reports of rain at the
airport , can be used as a rationale for assigning wet RWYCCs.
 Using of RCAM
Runway surface conditions
• Slippery wet
 A wet runway may be slippery where the surface friction characteristics of a
significant portion of the runway have been determined to be degraded.
 Some contributing factors that can create such conditions include rubber buildup,
groove failures/wear or pavement micro/macro textures.
 The RWYCC for a Slippery Wet Runway is 3
 Methods to determine that a runway is slippery wet may include a functional friction
measurements, observation by aerodrome maintenance personnel, repeated
reports by pilots and analysis of aeroplane stopping performance that indicates a
substandard surface.
 Using of RCAM
Runway surface conditions
• Contaminated Runway
 Compacted snow  Slush
 Dry snow  Standing water
 Frost  Wet ice
 Ice  Wet snow
 Using of RCAM
Runway surface conditions
• Contaminated Runway
 Mud, ash, sand and oil are also examples or reportable contaminants.
However there is insufficient of varying data on their impact on aircraft
performance
 Therefore, RCC are not reported for these contaminants – rather, they are
reported in the plain language remark session of the RCR
 Ash, oil, sand and rubber contaminants should be reported without a
measured depth, while the measured depth should be reported for mud.
 An exception is rubber contamination, for which in service data indicates that
an assumption of RWYCC 3 restores usual performance margins
 Using of RCAM
Runway surface conditions
• Contaminated Runway – Standing Water
Water of a depth more than 3 mm is defined as standing water
The RWYCC for Standing Water is 2
 Using of RCAM
Contaminant depth
 Contamination depth significantly affects aircraft takeoff and landing
performance, including stopping capability
 Specifics contaminants with more that 3 mm have been found to significantly
degrade aircraft takeoff and landing performance
 The airport operator shall report the distribution of contaminant on the total
maintained portion of the runway for the following contaminant types only:
 Standing Water more that 3 mm
 Slush
 Dry Snow
 Wet Snow
 Wet Snow or Dry Snow on top of Compacted Snow
 Using of RCAM
Contaminant depth
 Using of RCAM
Contaminant depth
 The depth is reported as a two or three-digit number representing the
assessed depth in millimeters (mm) of the contaminant for each runway third
 The assessment is based upon an even distribution within the runway thirds as
assessed by trained personnel
 If measurements are included as part of the assessment process, the reported
values are still reported as assessed depths, as the trained personnel have
placed their judgment upon the measured depths to be representative for the
runway third
 Where contaminant depth is not being reported, operator should indicate that
no information exists by entering NR
 Runway Condition Report
Reporting
 A RWYCC is reported for each runway third in the format of n/n/n
 The percentage of the runway covered by contaminants, contaminant depth
and contaminant type should also be reported for each runway third
 Runway thirds should reflect the entire usable pavement length of the runway,
inclusive of displaced threshold
 The direction for listing the runway thirds should be in the direction as seen
from the lower runway designation number

First 1/3 Second 1/3 Third 1/3

 Runway Condition Report
• The RCR consists of two sections:
– aeroplane take-off and landing performance calculations; and
– situational awareness of the surface conditions on the runway, taxiways and aprons.
 Runway Condition Report
Aeroplane performance calculation section
 Aerodrome location indicator (mandatory): four-letter ICAO location
indicator in accordance with Doc 7910, Location Indicators.
 Format: nnnn
 Example: GOBD
 Date and time of assessment (mandatory): date and time (UTC) when the
assessment was performed by the trained personnel.
 Format: MMDDhhmm
 Example: 09111357
 Lower runway designation number (mandatory): a two- or three-character
number identifying the runway for which the assessment is carried out and
reported.
 Format: nn[L] or nn[C] or nn[R]
 Example: 09L
 Runway Condition Report
Aeroplane performance calculation section
 Runway condition code for each runway third (mandatory): a one-digit
number identifying the RWYCC assessed for each runway third. The codes
are reported in a three-character group separated by a “/” for each third. The
direction for listing the runway thirds shall be in the direction as seen from the
lower designation number.
 Format: n/n/n
 Example: 5/5/2

Note: When transmitting information on runway surface conditions by ATS to flight

crews, the sections are, however, referred to as the first, second or third part of the
runway. The first part always means the first third of the runway as seen in the
direction of landing or take-off
 Runway Condition Report
Aeroplane performance calculation section
 Per cent coverage contaminant for each runway third (conditional. not reported for
one runway third if it is dry or covered with less than 10 per cent): a number identifying
the percentage coverage. The percentages are to be reported in an up-to-nine
character group separated by a “/” for each runway third.
 Format: [n]nn/[n]nn/[n]nn
 Example: 25/50/100
NR/50/100 if contaminant coverage is less than 10% in the first third
With uneven distribution of the contaminants, additional information is to be given in
the plain language remark part of the situational awareness section of the runway
condition report. Where possible, a standardized text should be used.
Note.― When no information is to be reported, insert “NR” at its relevant position in
the message to indicate to the user that no information exists (/NR/).
 Runway Condition Report
Aeroplane performance calculation section
 Depth of loose contaminant: dry snow, wet snow, slush or standing water
for each runway third (Conditional, reported for STANDING WATER): a two-
or three-digit number representing the assessed depth (mm) of the
contaminant for each runway third.
 Format: [n]nn/[n]nn/[n]nn
 Examples: 04/06/12 [STANDING WATER]

When the depth of the contaminants varies significantly within a runway third,
additional information is to be given in the plain language remark part of the
situational awareness section of the runway condition report.
 Runway Condition Report
Aeroplane performance calculation section
 Condition description for each runway third (mandatory): to be reported in capital
letters using terms specified in 2.9.5 of Annex 14, Volume I. The condition type is
reported by any of the following condition type descriptions for each runway third
and separated by an oblique stroke “/”. (DRY, STANDING WATER, WET, …)
 Format: nnnn/nnnn/nnnn
 Example: WET/WET/WET

 Width of runway to which the RWYCCs apply if less than published width
(optional): a the two-digit number representing the width of cleared runway in
metres.
 Format: nn
 Example: 30
If the cleared runway width is not symmetrical along the centre line, additional information is to be given
in the plain language remark part of the situational awareness section of the runway condition report
 Runway Condition Report
Situational awareness section
All individual messages in the situational awareness section end with a full stop
sign. This is to distinguish the message from subsequent message(s).
 Reduced runway length: This information is conditional when a NOTAM has
been published with a new set of declared distances affecting the LDA.
 Format: Standardized fixed text
 RWY nn [L] or nn [C] or nn [R] LDA REDUCED TO [n]nnn
 Example: RWY 22L LDA REDUCED TO 1450.
 Loose sand on the runway(optional):
 Format: RWY nn[L] or nn[C] or nn[R] LOOSE SAND
 Example: RWY 02R LOOSE SAND.
 Chemical treatment on the runway(mandatory):
 Format: RWY nn[L] or nn[C] or nn[R] CHEMICALLY TREATED
 Example: RWY 06 CHEMICALLY TREATED.
 Runway Condition Report
Situational awareness section
 Taxiway conditions (optional):
 Format: TWY [nn]n POOR
 Example: TWY B POOR.
 Apron conditions (optional):
 Format: APRON [nnnn] POOR
 Example: APRON NORTH POOR.
 State-approved and published use of measured friction coefficient (optional):
 Format: [State set format and associated procedures]
 Example: [Function of State set format and associated procedures].
 Runway Condition Report
Situational awareness section
 Plain language remarks using only allowable characters in capital letters
(optional):
 Format: Combination of allowable characters where use of full stop « . » marks the end
of the message.
 Allowable characters:
A B C D E F G H I J K LM N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
0123456789
/ [oblique stroke] “.” [period]“ ” [space]
Runway Condition Report (RCR) - Example
Thank You