AD 1.2 Rescue and Firefighting Services, Runway Service Condition Assessment and Reporting, and Snow Plan
1 IN BELGIUM
1.1 CIVIL
1.1.1 Rescue and Firefighting Services
1.1.1.1 Public Aerodromes
Belgian public aerodromes (according AD-1.3) are provided with RFFS and means whose essential purpose is to save lives in case of aircraft accident or incident occurring at or in the vicinity of an aerodrome.
The ensured protection level defined by the aerodrome category is published in section AD 2.6 of the aerodrome concerned. The aerodrome category is defined depending on the characteristics of the largest aircraft (aircraft overall length and maximum fuselage width) normally using the aerodrome and by the number of movements of the largest aircraft.
Rescue and fire fighting services are equipped according to the following table:
| Minimum usable amounts of extinguishing agents | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foam meeting Performance level A | Foam meeting performance level B | Foam meeting performance level C | Complementary agents | ||||||
| Aerodrome category | Water (L) | Discharge rate foam solution/minute (L) | Water (L) | Discharge rate foam solution/minute (L) | Water (L) | Discharge rate foam solution/minute (L) | Dry chemical powders (KG) | Discharge rate (KG/sec) | Rescue and fire fighting vehicles |
| 1 | 350 | 350 | 230 | 230 | 160 | 160 | 45 | 2.25 | 1 |
| 2 | 1000 | 800 | 670 | 550 | 460 | 360 | 90 | 2.25 | 1 |
| 3 | 1800 | 1300 | 1200 | 900 | 820 | 630 | 135 | 2.25 | 1 |
| 4 | 3600 | 2600 | 2400 | 1800 | 1700 | 1100 | 135 | 2.25 | 1 |
| 5 | 8100 | 4500 | 5400 | 3000 | 3900 | 2200 | 180 | 2.25 | 1 |
| 6 | 11800 | 6000 | 7900 | 4000 | 5800 | 2900 | 225 | 2.25 | 2 |
| 7 | 18200 | 7900 | 12100 | 5300 | 8800 | 3800 | 225 | 2.25 | 2 |
| 8 | 27300 | 10800 | 18200 | 7200 | 12800 | 5100 | 450 | 4.5 | 3 |
| 9 | 36400 | 13500 | 24300 | 9000 | 17100 | 6300 | 450 | 4.5 | 3 |
| 10 | 48200 | 16600 | 32300 | 11200 | 22800 | 7900 | 450 | 4.5 | 3 |
Temporary changes in the fire protection category will be published by NOTAM.
1.1.1.2 Private Aerodromes
Belgian private aerodromes are equipped according:
- where the overall length of the largest aircraft is less then 12 M, minimum 50 KG dry chemical powders and minimum 5 KG CO2;
- where the overall length of the largest aircraft is equal or more than 12 M or when turbine powered aircraft are allowed, minimum 150 KG dry chemical powders, minimum 10 KG CO2 and a transporting vehicle.
1.1.1.3 ULM Aerodromes
Belgian ULM aerodromes are equipped according:
- all ULM aerodromes are equipped with minimum 25 KG dry chemical powders and minimum 3 KG CO2.
1.1.1.4 Private Heliports
Belgian private heliports are equipped according:
- heliports serving helicopters with MTOW less than 5700 KG, minimum 48 KG dry chemical powders ABC and minimum 5 KG CO2;
- heliports serving helicopters with MTOW equal or more than 5700 KG, minimum 150 KG dry chemical powders ABC and minimum 10 KG CO2.
- Elevated heliports are equipped according to the following tables:
Foam meeting performance level B Complementary agents Category Water (L) Discharge rate foam solution (L/MIN) Dry chemical powders (KG) or Halons (KG) or CO2 (KG) H1 2500 250 45 45 90 H2 5000 500 45 45 90 H3 8000 800 45 45 90 Category Helicopter overall length H1 up to but not including 15 M H2 from 15 M up to but not including 24 M H3 from 24 M up to but not including 35 M
Note: Helicopter length, including the tail boom and the rotors.
1.1.2 Runway Surface Condition Assessment and Reporting, and Snow Plan
1.1.2.1 General
The Airport Authority is responsible for maintaining the aerodrome in safe conditions for flight operations and for assessing and reporting associated runway conditions. Seasonal availability and clearing is published in section AD 2.7 of the concerned aerodrome.
Whenever possible, runways will be cleared to expose the pavement. Various clearing equipment and methods are used on various aerodromes. These methods are published in section AD 2.7 of the concerned aerodrome. Possible employed clearing equipment: sweepers, blowers, ploughs, stand-sweepers, spreaders, de-icers for taxiway/runway (liquid and solid).
The type of de-icing compounds and their conditions of use are the subject of special instructions given to aerodromes in due time, in keeping with the latest developments in this area.
Priority in clearance will normally be: runway, taxiways to aprons, aircraft stands on major aprons, remaining taxiways and aprons. More detailed cleaning priorities are published in section AD 2.7 of the concerned aerodrome.
1.1.2.2 Assessing and Reporting the Runway Surface Condition and the Condition of the Movement Area and Related Facilities
The aerodrome operator assesses the runway surface condition whenever water, snow, slush, ice or frost are present on an operational runway. From this assessment, a Runway Condition Code (RWYCC) and a description of the runway surface are reported in a Runway Condition Report (RCR), which can be used by the flight crew for aeroplane performance calculations. This assessment, based on the type, depth, temperature and coverage of contaminants, is the best assessment of the runway surface condition by the aerodrome operator; however, all other pertinent information is taken into consideration and kept up to date, and changes in conditions are reported without delay.
The RWYCC is a code number from 0 to 6 and reflects the runway braking capability as a function of the surface conditions. With this information, the flight crew can derive, from the performance information provided by the aeroplane manufacturer, the necessary stopping distance of an aircraft on the approach under the prevailing conditions.
Whenever the braking action experienced during landing is less good than indicated by the RWYCC issued for the runway in question, pilots shall provide a special air-report (AIREP) to ATC for a possible re-assessment of the runway surface conditions by the aerodrome operator.
Aerodrome operators use the following Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) in order to assign the RWYCC.
| Assessment criteria | Downgrade assessment criteria | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| RWYCC | Runway surface description | Aircraft deceleration or directional control observation | Special air-report of runway braking action |
| 6 | Dry | - | - |
| 5 | Frost Wet (runway surface is covered by any visible dampness or water with depth ≤ 3 MM) Slush (depth ≤ 3 MM) Dry snow (depth ≤ 3 MM) Wet snow (depth ≤ 3 MM) | Braking deceleration is normal for the wheel braking effort applied and directional control is normal | GOOD |
| 4 | Specially prepared winter runway Compacted snow and T ≤ - 15° C | Braking deceleration or directional control is between ’good’ and ‘medium’ | GOOD to MEDIUM |
| 3 | Slippery wet Dry snow or wet snow (any depth) on top of compacted snow Dry snow (depth > 3 MM) Wet snow (depth > 3 MM) Compacted snow and T > - 15° C | Braking deceleration is noticeably reduced for the wheel braking effort applied or directional control is noticeably reduced | MEDIUM |
| 2 | Standing water (depth > 3 MM) Slush (depth > 3 MM) | Braking deceleration or directional control is between ‘medium’ and ‘poor’ | MEDIUM to POOR |
| 1 | Ice | Braking deceleration is significantly reduced for the wheel braking effort applied or directional control is significantly reduced | POOR |
| 0 | Wet ice Water on top of compacted snow Dry snow or wet snow on top of ice | Braking deceleration is minimal to non-existent for the wheel braking effort applied or directional control is uncertain | LESS THAN POOR |
The Runway Condition Report (RCR) reports the runway surface condition over each third of the runway and is contained in the relevant ATIS message. The aerodrome operator will report to AIS and ATS on matters of operational significance affecting aircraft and aerodrome operations on the movement area, particularly in respect of:
- water;
- snow;
- slush;
- ice;
- frost;
- anti-icing or de-icing liquid chemicals or other contaminants; and
- snow banks or drifts.
The runway surface condition will also be reported via SNOWTAM when a significant change in runway surface condition occurs due to water, snow, slush, ice or frost. Reporting of the runway surface condition via SNOWTAM will subsequently continue to reflect significant changes until the runway is no longer contaminated.
When a paved runway or portion thereof is slippery wet, the aerodrome operator will make such information available to the aerodrome users by issuing a NOTAM that describes the location of the affected runway portion.
SNOWTAM are issued in accordance with the SNOWTAM format, as shown below. SNOWTAM has a maximum validity period of 8 hours. If a SNOWTAM has not been replaced within this period, it will be invalidated automatically. Inclusion of the different items is either mandatory (M), conditional (C) or optional (O) as indicated. When reporting on more than one runway, the items B to H are repeated for each runway.
Note: The letters used to indicate the SNOWTAM items are only used for reference purposes and will not be included in the SNOWTAM messages.
SNOWTAM Format
1.2 MILITARY
1.2.1 Rescue and Firefighting Services
A minimum allocation of means is applicable to each aerodrome category as stated in ICAO Annex 14 and specified as follows:
| Aerodrome category | Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) or fluoroprotein foam | Complementary agent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount of water (L) | Discharge rate foam solution/MIN (L) | Dry chemical powders (KG) | |
| 1 | 230 | 230 | 45 |
| 2 | 670 | 550 | 90 |
| 3 | 1 200 | 900 | 135 |
| 4 | 2 400 | 1 800 | 135 |
| 5 | 5 400 | 3 000 | 180 |
| 6 | 7 900 | 4 000 | 225 |
| 7 | 12 100 | 5 300 | 225 |
| 8 | 18 200 | 7 200 | 450 |
| 9 | 24 300 | 9 000 | 450 |
| 10 | 32 300 | 11 200 | 450 |
| Heliport category | Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) or fluoroprotein foam | Complementary agent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount of water (L) | Discharge rate foam solution/MIN (L) | Dry chemical powders (KG) | |
| H1 | 500 | 250 | 23 |
| H2 | 1 000 | 500 | 45 |
| H3 | 1 600 | 800 | 90 |
1.2.2 Runway Surface Condition Assessment and Reporting, and Snow Plan
1.2.2.1 Maintenance of Aerodrome Movement Areas in Conditions of Frost and Snow
The airport authority is responsible for maintaining the aerodrome in satisfactory security conditions for flight operations and for assessing and reporting associated runway conditions.
Whenever possible, the movement area will be kept clear of snow, ice, slush and standing water. The Belgian Air Component will give priority to keep clear the runway and QRA taxiways at EBBL and EBFS.
The maintenance of the movement area will be assured by means of brushes, snowploughs, snowblowers and chemicals.
1.2.2.2 Reporting of Braking Action
If SNOWTAM must give information on the braking action, the three equal sections of a runway will be referred to as A, B and C.
Section A will always be the first third measured from that end of the runway with the lowest runway designation number.
However, in landing instructions, the three sections will be referred to as the “first”, “second” or “third” part of a runway seen from the threshold.
1.2.2.3 Friction Coefficient
The friction coefficient is given by a special tool and data are available after the runway inspection. If no friction tool is available, the friction coefficient is estimated by the local ATC authorities.
Information on braking action will be given according to the following table:
| Measured friction coefficient | Estimated braking action | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 0.40 and above | Good | 5 |
| 0.39 - 0.36 | Good to medium | 4 |
| 0.35 - 0.30 | Medium | 3 |
| 0.29 - 0.26 | Medium to poor | 2 |
| 0.25 or below | Poor | 1 |
| 9 - unreliable | Unreliable | 9 |
Note: “Unreliable” will be reported when more than 10 % of a runway surface is covered by wet ice, wet snow and/or slush. Measuring results and estimates are considered absolutely unrealistic in such situations. In reports “unreliable” will be followed by either the friction number given by the instrument used or the estimated braking action.
2 IN LUXEMBOURG
2.1 Rescue and Firefighting Services
Certified aerodromes are provided with RFFS and means whose essential purpose is to save lives in case of aircraft accident or incident occurring at or in the vicinity of an aerodrome.
The level of protection to be ensured at an aerodrome is determined with respect of;
- the over-all length and maximum fuselage width of aircraft using the aerodrome.
- the frequency of their operations on the aerodrome.
The aerodrome category being determined, the ensured protection level is published in section AD 2.6 of the aerodrome concerned.
2.2 Runway Surface Condition Assessment and Reporting, and Snow Plan
If need be, a seasonal snow plan will be issued by AIC before the beginning of the winter.
2.2.1 Organisation of the runway surface condition reporting and winter service
ANA is the designated authority for the publication of runway condition information:
TEL: +352 47 98 23 01 0 (ARO)
FAX: +352 47 98 23 09 0 (ARO)
2.2.2 Surveillance of movement areas
Runway surface condition assessment is triggered by:
- meteorological reports,
- pilot reports,
- runway surface friction values.
2.2.3 Surface condition assessment methods used; operations on specially prepared winter runways
Assessment performed by personnel inspecting the runway, reporting as per provisions of EU Regulation N°139/2014, section ADR.OPS.B.037; no operations are conducted on specially prepared winter runway.
2.2.4 Actions taken to maintain the usability of movement areas
See ELLX AD 2.7.
2.2.5 System and means of reporting
Runway condition report.
2.2.6 The cases of runway closure
The runway will be closed in case the Runway Condition Code is 0.
2.2.7 Distribution of information about runway surface conditions
The Runway Condition Code is disseminated in ATIS messages, and will additionally be communicated to the users by ATC on request.