PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Runway part dry, part wet
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Old 9th November 2004 | 22:49
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TheOddOne
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Down at the sharp pointy end, where all the weather is made.
As Chiglet says, runway surface condition is reported in thirds. The surface condtions are reported as 'dry, damp, wet, water patches, flooded etc...' Anything worse than 'wet' is considered to be a contaminated surface and imposes severe operating limitations, if permitted at all.

Each operator and aircraft manufacturer will have their own rules as to how to respond to this; some will say that any third reported as 'wet' requires an adjustment of braking setting accordingly both for arrival and rejected take-off. It may also impose greater cross-wind limitations, too.

Any respectable length of runway is quite likely to have different conditions along its length in showery conditions; we often report 'dry, damp, wet' or any combination you like! Fortunately our cambered grooved asphalt surface drains extremely well and we never go beyond 'wet, wet, wet' even in a summer downpour.

Some runways are notified as 'liable to be slippery when wet'; quite an embarrasment, especially when you've just spent millions on having it resurfaced.

The Odd One.
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