The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched new standards for takeoff and landing performance assessment (TALPA) methods to enhance safety at airports across the country.
A new TALPA website has also been launched, and features the new standards, notices, alerts, videos and frequently asked questions.
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The new TALPA guidelines are intended to minimise the risk of runway overrun and contamination incidents caused by weather and other factors during the upcoming winter season in the US.
Based on research by the TALPA Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), the guidelines will allow airports and air traffic controllers to inform pilots about runway conditions.
Airport operators will use the new runway condition assessment matrix (RCAM) to assess conditions.
Presented in a standardised format, the RCAM is based on performance data supplied by aeroplane manufacturers, for each of the stated contaminant types and depths.
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By GlobalDataThe RCAM replaces subjective judgments of runway conditions with objective assessments linked directly to contaminant type and depth categories.
The pilot will then consult aircraft manufacturer data to understand what kind of stopping performance to expect from aeroplanes.
Airport operators will analyse surfaces, report contaminants that are present, and enter the information into the Federal NOTAM System to generate numerical runway condition codes (RwyCC) based on the RCAM.
RwyCCs may differ for each third of the runway if different contaminants are present; however, the same RwyCC may be applied when a uniform coverage of contaminants exists.
RwyCCs will replace Mu values, which will no longer be published in the Federal NOTAM System.
