Wed, Nov 23, 2011
New Terminology On Automated Broadcasts Will Alert Pilots To
Shortened Runways
The FAA is advising pilots of some changes in terminology used
in ATIS reports and other clearances to address confusion about
runway lengths at airports under where work is being done.
According the the agency, recent safety events revealed several
common misunderstandings when air traffic clearances were given to
pilots operating on runways shortened due to construction. Despite
available NOTAMs covering the situation, many pilots using
shortened runways have landed in the closed portion of the runway
or have been completely surprised to find much less runway
available than they had anticipated during the takeoff or landing
phases of flight.
The FAA has made the following changes:
- ATIS - When a runway length has been
temporarily or permanently shortened, the word
“WARNING” will preface the runway number, and the word
“shortened” will be included in the text of the
message. The ATIS will include the available runway length, as
stated in the NOTAM, and must be broadcast for the duration of the
construction project. Example: “Warning, Runway One-Zero has
been shortened, niner-thousand eight hundred and fifty feet
available, consult NOTAMs.”
- Departure Information - ATC will not use the
term “full length” when the runway length available for
departures has been temporarily shortened. The use of the term
“full length” could be interpreted by the pilot(s) as
the available runway length prior to the runway being shortened.
Whenever a runway length has been temporarily or permanently
shortened, the word “shortened” will be used
immediately following the runway number as part of the lineup and
wait clearance. Example: “(Call sign), Runway Two-eight
shortened, line up and wait” or "(Call sign), Runway
Two-eight shortened, cleared for takeoff.”
- Landing Information - The addition of
“shortened” must be included in the landing clearance
for the duration of the construction project when the runway is
temporarily shortened. Note that the use of the term
“shortened” in this case has nothing to do with short
approaches or short field landings and everything to do with
jogging your memory (NOTAMs and ATIS were your first awareness)
about the condition of the runway in use. Example: “(Call
sign), Runway Two-eight shortened, continue” or “(Call
sign), Runway Two-eight shortened, cleared to land.
ATC phraseology will include “warning” and
“shortened” for operations on permanently shortened
runways for at least 30 days or until the Airport/Facility
Directory has been updated, whichever is longer.
FAA officials say that the bottom line is, whenever you hear ATC
use the term “shortened”, this is your cue that the
runway you are about to use has been shortened and has a relocated
threshold on at least one end. If that surprises you in any
way, get all the information you need prior to using the
runway!
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