Global Reporting Format

AIS Aspects (SNOWTAM)

Abbas NIKNEJAD
Regional Officer, Air Navigation Systems Implementation
ICAO EUR/NAT Office

ICAO EUR GRF Implementation Workshop

(Paris, France, 10-11 July 2019)
 What is GRF?
• A globally-harmonized methodology for runway surface
conditions assessment and reporting to provide reports that
are directly related to the performance of aeroplanes.

Aeronautical information
Aircraft operators utilize the
services (AIS) provide the
Aerodrome operator assess the information in conjunction with
information received in the RCR
runway surface conditions, the performance data provided
to end users (SNOWTAM)
including contaminants, for by the aircraft manufacturer to
each third of the runway determine if landing or take-off
length, and report it by mean of operations can be conducted
a uniform runway condition Air traffic services (ATS) provide safely and provide runway
report (RCR) the information received via the braking action special air-report
RCR to end users (radio, ATIS) (AIREP)
and received special air-reports

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 Dissemination of information

• Through the AIS and ATS services: when the runway is wholly or partly
contaminated by standing water, snow, slush, ice or frost, or is wet
associated with the clearing or treatment of snow, slush, ice or frost.
• Through the ATS only: when the runway is wet, not associated with the
presence of standing water, snow, slush, ice or frost.

• SNOWTAM
AIS
• Voice
ATS • ATIS

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 Amendment 39B to Annex 15

Amendment 39B arises from:

• Recommendations of the Friction

Task Force of the Aerodrome
Design and Operations Panel
(ADOP) relating to the use of a
global reporting format for
assessing and reporting runway
surface conditions.

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 Major changes of amendment 39B

• SNOWTAM Definition
• SNOWTAM Provisions
• SNOWTAM Format (reporting format for
assessing and reporting runway surface
conditions has changed)

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 SNOWTAM Provisions moved to PANS AIM

• After amendment 40 to Annex 15 and with the introduction of the new PANS AIM
(DOC 10066), the provisions related to SNOWTAM were moved to PANS AIM.

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 Changes in SNOWTAM Definition
• SNOWTAM. A special series NOTAM given in a
standard format providing a surface condition report
notifying the presence or removal cessation of
hazardous conditions due to snow, ice, slush, frost, or
standing water or water associated with snow, slush
and, ice, or frost on the movement area, by means of
a specific format.

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 Major Changes in SNOWTAM Provisions
SNOWTAM Provisions (PANS AIM)
• “Assessment” instead of “Observation”
• The letters used to indicate items in SNOWTAM (A, B, C, …) are only used for reference purpose and should not
be included in the messages.
• The maximum validity of SNOWTAM is 8 hours (not 24 hours).
• A SNOWTAM cancels the previous SNOWTAM
• New SNOWTAM shall be issued whenever a new Runway Condition Report (RCR) is received.
• Mandatory information in RCR / SNOWTAM:
i) AERODROME LOCATION INDICATOR
ii) DATE AND TIME OF ASSESSMENT
iii) LOWER RUNWAY DESIGNATOR NUMBER
iv) RUNWAY CONDITION CODE FOR EACH RUNWAY THIRD
v) CONDITION DESCRIPTION FOR EACH RUNWAY THIRD (when runway condition code is reported 1- 5)

Notes (from PANS Aerodrome)

o RCR shall be initiated when a significant change in runway surface condition occurs due to water, snow, slush,
ice or frost. Reporting of the runway surface condition should continue to reflect significant changes until the
runway is no longer contaminated.
o A change in the runway surface condition used in the runway condition report is considered significant whenever
there is:
a) any change in the RWYCC;
b) any change in contaminant type;
c) any change in reportable contaminant coverage according to Table II-1-1;
d) any change in contaminant depth according to Table II-1-2; and
e) any other information, for example a pilot report of runway braking action, which according to assessment techniques used, are
known to be significant.

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 New SNOWTAM Format
• The new SNOWTAM has 2 sections
• The new SNOWTAM is conform to the Runway Condition
Report (RCR) in content and format

1: Aeroplane performance Section 2: Situational Awareness Section

Item A - Aerodrome location indicator Item I - Reduced runway length
Item B - Date and time of assessment Item J - Drifting snow on the runway
Item C - Lower runway designator number Item K - Loose sand on the runway
Item D - Runway condition code (each runway third) Item L - Chemical treatment on RWY
Item E - Per cent coverage (each runway third) Item M - Snow banks on the runway
Item F - Depth of loose contaminant (each runway third) Item N - Snow banks on the taxiway
Item G - Condition description for each third Item O - Snow banks adjacent to the runway
Item H - Width of RWY to which the RWYCCs apply Item P - Taxiway conditions
Item R - Apron conditions
Item S - Measured friction coefficient
Item T - Plain language remarks

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GG EADBZQZX EADNZQZX EADSZQZX
170350 EADDYNYX

SWEA0149 EADD 02170345

SNOWTAM 0149

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EADD 02170345 09C 3/2/1 75/100/100
06/12/12 SLUSH/SNOW/SNOW 35
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Example:
DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 09 LOOSE SAND. RWY 09 CHEMICALLY TREATED.
RWY 09 SNOWBANK R20 FM CL. TWY A SNOWBANK. RWY 06R ADJACENT
SNOWBANKS. TWY B POOR. APRON NORTH POOR.)

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GG EADBZQZX EADNZQZX EADSZQZX GG EHAMZQZX EDDFZQZX EKCHZQZX
170350 EADDYNYX 070645 LSZHYNYX

SWEA0149 EADD 02170345 SWLS0149 LSZH 11070700

(SNOWTAM 0149 (SNOWTAM 0149

EADD 02170345 09L 5/5/5 100/100/100 NR/NR/NR A) LSZH

WET/WET/WET
B) 11070620 C) 02 D)…P)
EADD 02170134 09R 5/4/3 100/50/75 NR/06/06
WET/SLUSH/SLUSH B) 11070600 C) 09 D)…P)

EADD 02170225 09C 3/2/1 75/100/100 06/12/12 B) 11070700 C) 12 D)…P)

SLUSH/WET SNOW/WET
R) NO S) 11070920
SNOW 35
T) DEICING
DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 09L LOOSE SAND. RWY 09R
CHEMICALLY TREATED. RWY 09C CHEMICALLY
TREATED.)

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 Recommendations
• updating State’s regulatory framework
– updating National regulations (transposition of ICAO provisions to the national regulations)
– filing differences in EFOD / publishing significant differences in AIP (if required)
• establishment of a national implementation team & plan that takes into
account the modified ICAO provisions;
• training, awareness, education;
• coordination between AIS, affected aerodromes, ATS units and Users
(operators/airlines) of the new requirements and changes (through circular,
etc.);
• revision/updating of the software/templates used to issue/receive
SNOWTAM (NOTAM/SNOWTAM system);
• updating the formal arrangements between aerodromes and AIS; and
• publication of an aeronautical information circular (AIC) for awareness and
readiness of all stakeholders.

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Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM)

BACK

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Percentage of coverage of contaminants

BACK

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Depth assessment for contaminants

BACK

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 Condition Description for each Runway Third
• COMPACTED SNOW
• DRY SNOW
• DRY SNOW ON TOP OF COMPACTED SNOW
• DRY SNOW ON TOP OF ICE
• FROST
• ICE
• SLUSH
• STANDING WATER
• WATER ON TOP OF COMPACTED SNOW
• WET
• WET ICE
• WET SNOW
• WET SNOW ON TOP OF COMPACTED SNOW
• WET SNOW ON TOP OF ICE

• DRY (only reported when there is no contaminant)

Note.— When the conditions are not reported, this will be

signified by the insertion of “NR” for the appropriate runway
third(s). BACK

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