Friction-Reporting Caveats
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stopped recommending that airports provide runway friction measurement values (Mu) to pilots when snow or ice is on the runways. The FAA’s action does not prohibit issuance of runway friction measurements, however.
“If an airport chooses to report friction measurement values, the FAA requires airports to report Mu values below 40 as actual values, or any values above 40 as 40,” the agency said in an email to Flight Safety Foundation. The email was written in answer to questions asked during the Air Line Pilots Association, International Air Safety Forum 2012, held in August.
“The FAA no longer recommends reporting for three reasons,” the email said. “First, friction measurements can vary significantly, even when reporting on the same contaminated surface conditions. Second, reported readings can differ depending on the measuring device being used. Finally, the friction measurements only…
