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 AFoam meeting performance level BFoam meeting performance level CComplementary agents
Aerodrome categoryWater (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
1350350230230160160452.251
21000800670550460360902.251
31800130012009008206301352.251
43600260024001800170011001352.251
58100450054003000390022001802.251
611800600079004000580029002252.252
7182007900121005300880038002252.252
827300108001820072001280051004504.53
936400135002430090001710063004504.53
10482001660032300112002280079004504.53

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)orHalons (KG)orCO2 (KG)
    H12500250454590
    H25000500454590
    H38000800454590
    CategoryHelicopter overall length
    H1up to but not including 15 M
    H2from 15 M up to but not including 24 M
    H3from 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.

The Airport Authority may temporarily close parts of the movement area for winter maintenance purposes, when condition of the area has been assessed as unsafe for operations. A temporary closure shall be notified in SNOWTAM and promulgated also by NOTAM if deemed necessary.

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.

Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM)
Assessment criteriaDowngrade assessment criteria
RWYCCRunway surface descriptionAircraft deceleration or directional control observationSpecial air-report of runway braking action
6Dry--
5Frost
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 normalGOOD
4Specially prepared winter runway
Compacted snow and T ≤ - 15° C
Braking deceleration or directional control is between ’good’ and ‘medium’GOOD to MEDIUM
3Slippery 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 reducedMEDIUM
2Standing water (depth > 3 MM)
Slush (depth > 3 MM)
Braking deceleration or directional control is between ‘medium’ and ‘poor’MEDIUM to POOR
1IceBraking deceleration is significantly reduced for the wheel braking effort applied or directional control is significantly reducedPOOR
0Wet 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 uncertainLESS 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 categoryAqueous film forming foam (AFFF) or fluoroprotein foamComplementary agent
Amount of water (L)Discharge rate foam solution/MIN (L)Dry chemical powders (KG)
123023045
267055090
31 200900135
42 4001 800135
55 4003 000180
67 9004 000225
712 1005 300225
818 2007 200450
924 3009 000450
1032 30011 200450
Heliport categoryAqueous film forming foam (AFFF) or fluoroprotein foamComplementary agent
Amount of water (L)Discharge rate foam solution/MIN (L)Dry chemical powders (KG)
H150025023
H21 00050045
H31 60080090
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 coefficientEstimated braking actionCode
0.40 and aboveGood5
0.39 - 0.36Good to medium4
0.35 - 0.30Medium3
0.29 - 0.26Medium to poor2
0.25 or belowPoor1
9 - unreliableUnreliable9

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 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.