Runway Condition Reading

INTERMEDIATE FLIGHT PREPARATION WORKBOOK

APPENDIX A

Runway gradient.

Runway surface conditions.

Runway Condition Reading

Runway Condition Reading (RCR) is a measure of tire-to-runway friction coefficient. RCR is

given as a whole number. This value is used to define the braking characteristics for various

runway surface conditions. The reported RCR is therefore a factor in determining any

performance involving braking, such as critical engine failure speed and refusal speed. Some

airfields report runway braking characteristics in accordance with International Civil Aviation

Organization (ICAO) documents, as "good", "medium", and "poor." In order to relate these

ICAO categories to an RCR or when RCR values are not available, the following relationship

will be used:

RUNWAY

ICAO

CONDITION

REPORT

RCR

Dry

Good

Wet

Medium

Icy

Poor

Runway Surface Condition

Runway Surface Condition (RSC) is the average depth covering the runway surface measured to

1/10 inch (1 inch is equivalent to a RSC of 10). RSC types are listed below:

Wet Runway, standing water

SLR

Slush on Runway

LSR

Loose Snow on Runway

PSR

Packed Snow on Runway

Ice on Runway

The RSC affects both the acceleration and stopping performance of the aircraft and must be

accounted for when determining critical field length, critical engine failure speed, and refusal

speed.

Runway Length

Runway length is the paved surface length excluding any overrun.

GLOSSARY

A-3