[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 49234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19270]


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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: [email protected].
    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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