Declaring a runway 'wet'
I wonder if you GRND and TWR guys could help with this one:-
By definition in EU-ops:
A runway is considered 'wet' when the runway surface is covered with water or equivalent, less than 3mm or when there is sufficient moisture on the runway surface to cause it to appear reflective, but without significant areas of standing water. (Paraphrased)
&:
A runway is considered 'damp' when the surface is not dry but when the moisture on it does not give it a shiny appearance.
If the runway is grooved like for example LCY, even moderate rain (tell me if I'm wrong here) is not normally be enough to cause it to appear reflective. In this case can you declare the RW damp instead of wet??
Quite a few operators will not be able to operate in and out on LCY, or Oxford, Dundee etc. in 'wet' conditions. I have landed at LCY with the RW declared 'wet', but it was not shiny so according to the criteria above it should have been declared 'damp'.
There is a new Fodcom 03/2009 which states the UK AOC holders now have to use 'wet' performance even for grooved runways which are declared 'wet'.
If the runway is not declared 'wet', but 'damp' as it is non-reflective, then this will allow dry landing performace to be used. If not, then LCY for example will probably become a very quiet airport every time it rains!