Attention:
All canadian pilots, flight dispatchers, air operators and private operators
| Issuing Office: | Standards Branch |
|---|---|
| File Classification No. : | Z 5000-35 U |
| RDIMS No. : | 12169893 |
| Document No. : | CASA 2016-08 |
| Issue No. : | 01 |
| Effective Date: | 2016-08-12 |
Purpose:
The purpose of this CASA is to alert Canadian pilots, flight dispatchers, air operators and private operators of important changes affecting flight operations in the United States, which will take effect on October 1, 2016.
Background:
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) initiative aims to reduce the risk of runway overruns by providing airport operators with a method to accurately and consistently determine the runway condition when a paved runway is not dry. This information is intended to enable a more accurate determination of the distance required to stop on a wet or contaminated paved runway.
Beginning October 1, 2016, most US airports will use TALPA procedures to conduct runway assessments and will report those conditions in newly formatted Field Condition (FICON) Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). This information, along with the manufacturer-supplied aircraft-specific performance information (performance data), is used to determine the runway length needed to safely stop an aircraft after landing.
The new format FICON will feature a Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) format and terminology. The RCAM will include Runway Condition Codes (RCC) which will range from 6 to 1, as follows: 6-Dry; 5-Good; 4-Good to Medium; 3-Medium; 2-Medium to Poor; 1-Poor.
The new ( TALPA ) format FICON will also provide runway contaminant type and depth information using the established terminology and symbols. However, the new format FICON will provide additional detail, since runway conditions will be specified for each third of the runway.
The
FAA
has provided a website with numerous
TALPA
resources:
http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/talpa
This website identifies existing FAA publications that are significant to the TALPA initiative. Additional publications will be added to the table for use by the aviation community in the next several months.
Relevant information can also be found in the
FAA
Order 8900.1, Volume 4, Chapter 3, Section 1, Subsection 4-503-Landing Distance Assessment at Time of Arrival.
http://fsims.faa.gov/PICResults.aspx?mode=EBookContents&restricttocategory=all~menu
Some aircraft manufacturers and performance data providers have produced performance information (data) which conforms to the TALPA RCAM format and terminology. This Operational Landing Distance data is advisory data which is based on the recommendations of FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 25-32, Landing Performance Data for Time-of-Arrival Landing Performance Assessments.
For some older airplanes which are still in service, the manufacturer may not provide advisory data which conforms to the TALPA RCAM format and terminology. For these aircraft, FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 4, Chap. 3, Section 1, Subsection 4-503 provides advisory information, including Landing Distance Factors (LDF) in Table 4-11.
Note:
The aircraft manufacturer or type certificate holder should be consulted for specific direction and guidance regarding aircraft performance and operational procedures.
Caution:
All personnel should use their best judgement in making conservative calculations of the effects of wet and contaminated runway conditions on aircraft performance.
From October 1, 2016 onwards, pilots who are not familiar with the new TALPA runway assessment procedures and the newly formatted FICON NOTAM may not be able to interpret and utilize this important information correctly and effectively.
Section 602.71 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) – Pre-flight Information states: “The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall, before commencing a flight, be familiar with the available information that is appropriate to the intended flight.”
Section 705.111 (b) of the
CARs
– Route and Aerodrome Qualifications states:
“No air operator shall permit a person to act and no person shall act as the pilot-in-command of an aircraft on a flight along a route or into an aerodrome unless…
(b) the person has received training and demonstrated adequate knowledge, in accordance with the Commercial Air Service Standards [CASS].
Section 725.124(35)(a)(iii) of the
CASS
– Route and Aerodrome Qualifications Training states:
“For aerodrome qualification, the pilot-in-command shall demonstrate knowledge of:
…meteorological, communication and air traffic facilities, services and procedures.”
Recommended actions:
Transport Canada reminds all pilots, flight dispatchers, air operators and private operators, who will be conducting flight operations to and from the United States from October 1, 2016 onwards, to ensure that they are familiar with the new TALPA runway assessment procedures and the newly formatted FICON NOTAMs .
Contact office:
For more information concerning this issue, contact a Transport Canada Centre; or contact Robert Kostecka, Flight Technical and Operator Certification, Commercial Flight Standards, in Ottawa, by telephone at Telephone: 613-990-7642 or by e-mail at Email: robert.kostecka@tc.gc.ca.
Robert Sincennes
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
Director
STANDARDS BRANCH
THE TRANSPORT CANADA CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY ALERT (CASA) IS USED TO CONVEY IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND CONTAINS RECOMMENDED ACTION ITEMS. THE CASA STRIVES TO ASSIST THE AVIATION INDUSTRY'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A SERVICE WITH THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE DEGREE OF SAFETY. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS OFTEN CRITICAL AND MUST BE CONVEYED TO THE APPROPRIATE OFFICE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE CASA MAY BE CHANGED OR AMENDED SHOULD NEW INFORMATION BECOME AVAILABLE.
