[Federal Register: August 20, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 162)]
[Notices]
[Page 49234]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au08-110]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Notice of Policy Regarding Runway Closures During the Winter
Season
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of proposed operational criteria,
request for comments.
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SUMMARY: FAA is proposing to amend Advisory Circular 150/5200-30,
Airport Winter Safety and Operations, to establish new operational
criteria for the closure of runways (paragraph 5-5) due to inclement
weather during the winter season. The proposed operational criteria
specify those events associated with winter contaminated runways that
trigger airport operators to implement runway closure procedures. A
subsequent requirement associated with the implementation of such
closures is the timely notification of airport users and the public by
issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). To ensure that the intent of
this safety initiative is attained, the airport's Snow and Ice Control
Plan, required per 14 CFR Part 139, Certification of Airports, should
contain a formal memorandum-of-understanding between the airport
traffic control tower and the airport operator that covers at a minimum
(1) that the airport traffic control tower will transmit timely needed
information to the airport operator, such as, all pilot braking action
reports of ``POOR'' and ``NIL'' and (2) procedures that the airport
traffic control tower will follow upon the airport operator's decision
to close a runway. The draft advisory circular is available for
downloading at http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/
resources/draft_advisory_circulars/
DATES: Comments must be received before September 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
E-mail: rick.marinelli@faa.gov.
Fax: 202-267-3688.
Mail: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Airport Safety and
Standards, Airport Engineering Division, AAS-100, Room 621, 800
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George I. Legarreta, Federal Aviation
Administration, Office of Airport Safety and Standards, Airport
Engineering Division, AAS-100, Room 621, 800 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20591. Telephone: 202-267-8766.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The aviation industry and FAA are working
jointly within the Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment Aviation
Rulemaking Committee to define the various conditions associated with
the necessity for a runway closure during the winter season. An
expected outcome of the joint effort is issuance of a Paved Runway
Safety Assessment Matrix for use by airport operators for decision
making. The matrix will associate runway surface conditions, pilot
braking action reports, and other secondary criteria, with the industry
accepted practices of describing runway frictional qualities, namely,
GOOD-MEDIUM-POOR-NIL. The FAA plans to incorporate the committee's
matrix in a future revision to the above referenced advisory circular.
Issued in Washington, DC on August 14, 2008.
Rick Marinelli,
Manager, Airport Engineering Division, AAS-100.
[FR Doc. E8-19270 Filed 8-19-08; 8:45 am]
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