RUNWAY CONDITION Federal Aviation
Administration
ASSESSMENT MATRIX (RCAM)
Development & Background
Presented to: ICAO SAM Regional Seminar on
the GRF for Runway Conditions
Alberto Rodriguez, Headquarters Specialist
By: Office of Airport Safety and Standards
Date: August 21 - 22, 2019
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•Airplane Operators •Airplane Operators
•Regulatory Authorities
•Part 121 •Part 91-K/125/135
FAA (Airports, Flight Standards, Certification,
NOTAMS, Rulemaking, Legal) ABX Air Alpha Flying, Inc
Alaska
ICAO Bombardier Flexjet
American Eagle
Transport Canada Chantilly Air
American
Brazilian Certification Authority Flight Works
Continental
EASA (Limited Participation) Delta Jet Solutions
Express Jet Conoco Phillips Alaska
•Other Organizations Federal Express Net Jets
Northwest Pogo Jet, Inc
Air Transport Association
Pinnacle
Airline Pilots Association
Southwest •Airplane Manufacturers
Airports Council International
United Airbus
Allied Pilots Association
UPS Boeing
National Air Carrier Association
US Airways Bombardier
National Business Aviation Association
Cessna
National Transportation Safety Board •Airports
Eclipse
Neubert Aero Corporation Chicago Airport System
Embraer
Regional Airline Association Cherry Capital
Gulfstream
Southwest Airlines Pilot Association Denver International
Hawker
Allied Pilots Association Grand Rapids Regional
Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport System
TALPA ARC Recommendations
• Methods for assessing runway conditions
• Reporting of runway conditions through airport
operators, the NOTAM system, and ATC agencies
• Reporting of braking action by pilots
• Airplane performance data
• Before landing/departing performance assessments
• Standardized condition reports and terminology
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unway
ondition
ssessment
atrix
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Standardized Contaminant List
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Defined
Pilot Reported
Braking Action
Terminology
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Components
Of The
RCAM…
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When is the RCAM Applicable?
• Only on Paved Runways
– Not on Turf, Dirt, Gravel, or Water Runways,
• Runway Condition Codes are NOT generated on
Taxiways, Ramps, Heliports, etc…
• Codes are generated only when the total runway
surface (or cleared width) is contaminated by more
than 25%.
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Runway Condition Codes
• Why is it better than Mu?
• Less subjective
• More substantive
• What does it mean to the Pilot?
• Location, type, and depth of contaminant(s).
• Estimated aircraft braking action to be anticipated.
• Calculative performance data.
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Coverage Range
Not Reported Less than 10%
25% 10% thru 25%
50% 26% thru 50%
75% 51% thru 75%
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100% 76% thru 100%
Touchdown Midpoint Roll-out
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Standards and Guidance Changes
• Runway closure triggers, friction testing subjectivity
• Published Reportable Contaminant List
• Standardized terminology and reporting methods
• Expanded NOTAM System for filing Field Condition NOTAMs
(similar to SNOTAMs)
– Sortable FICON Information for end users
– Domestic and International Compatibility
– Real-time / Instantaneous reporting.
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Standards and Guidance Changes
• No longer reporting friction values (Mu).
• No longer reporting vehicle braking for Runway
conditions.
• Percentage Based Reporting
• Reporting runway conditions in thirds.
Reporting Airport Condition Information
• Runway Condition Codes are disseminated
via one or more of the following methods:
– Federal NOTAM System,
– Airport Traffic Control Facility (corresponding Tower, Center,
Tracon, etc.);
– Flight Service Station (FSS) (as applicable); and
– Directly from airport operator via Common Traffic Advisory
Frequency (as applicable).
Examples:
Aircraft Operator Side
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RCC 6 5 4 3 2 1
Airline
Operating
Manuals
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Airbus ROPS and TALPA
• In flight, predicted stopping point based on TALPA
ARC recommendations
• Includes 15% operational safety margin
• On A350, can select runway condition by either
runway surface description or braking action
• On ground, predicted stopping point transitions to
being based on actual deceleration being achieved
• In-flight landing distance check required to ensure
alerts will not trigger during a normal approach
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Comments and Questions?
Alberto Rodriguez
Headquarters Specialist / Inspector
[email protected]
Office of Airport Safety & Standards
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