ICAO’s Task Force seeking runway friction harmonisation

Cheong: “The Circular recommends future areas to be explored in an effort to reduce incidences of runway excursion and enhance the safety of aviation.”

Cheong: “The Circular recommends future areas to be explored in an effort to reduce incidences of runway excursion and enhance the safety of aviation.”

Comprising members from eight separate countries and five international organisations, the Friction Task Force was established in 2008 to review and update the international specifications for the assessment, measurement and reporting of the characteristics of runway friction testing.

Since its inception, it has finalised proposed amendments to the global provisions in, among others, Annex 14 – Aerodromes, Volume I – Aerodrome Design and Operations and Annex 15 – Aeronautical Information Services germane to friction and surface contaminants.

“The proposals include provisions related to the promulgation of information on the condition of the movement area, physical characteristics and aerodrome maintenance,” explained Cheong. “New provision has also been proposed requiring aerodrome ground personnel that are tasked with reporting surface friction characteristics and assessing runway surface contaminants relevant to aircraft performance to be adequately trained and competent to carry out the task.”

These proposals are set to be discussed during the second meeting of the Aerodromes Panel in October this year and, if endorsed by the Air Navigation Commission, will be processed in accordance with established procedures for adoption as international Standards and Recommended Practices in the ICAO Annexes from 2012.

ICAO Circular

The Friction Task Force is exploring the need to develop a replacement for the existing ICAO SNOWTAM reporting system, which has been in place since the 1960s.

The Friction Task Force is exploring the need to develop a replacement for the existing ICAO SNOWTAM reporting system, which has been in place since the 1960s.

Part of the initiative includes the development of a Circular that aims to increase understanding on the issue and harmonise processes on a global scale. Cheong said: “The draft Circular is currently undergoing final editing and is scheduled to be published sometime this year. The intent of this Circular is to provide a fundamental understanding of the complex processes involved in the science of friction measurement and reporting, and its relationship with aircraft performance on runways.

“On a broader scale, it also provides information on the assessment of runway surface condition, including the need for unified, harmonised reporting for the use of the global aviation community. The Circular also recommends future areas to be explored in an effort to reduce incidences of runway excursion and enhance the safety of aviation.”

The Task Force is also currently keeping a close eye on the activities being carried out in the US and by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). These include the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment – Aviation Rulemaking Committee, and EASA’s Runway Friction Characteristics Measurement and Aircraft Braking. Cheong explained: “The results of these studies, as well as previous studies such as the Canadian Runway Friction Index and the International Runway Friction Index, may point to the need for new and emerging technologies pertaining to the management of runway surface friction and other surface contaminants related to aircraft performance.”

Global harmonisation

Looking ahead to the longer term aims of the Task Force, Cheong also outlined the need to develop a global reporting format to replace the existing ICAO SNOWTAM system – the current process used to describe the conditions of runways, taxiways and aprons.

He said: “The existing ICAO SNOWTAM format was developed in the early 1960s and subsequently approved as a global reporting format in the late 1960s. However, since then, different reporting systems have been developed by different states. The ICAO SNOWTAM has also been used differently by European States and, consequently, there is an urgent need to harmonise these efforts to produce a globally harmonised reporting format.”


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