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[2.0] [SFC.CON] Surface condition report - coding

[2.0] [SFC.CON] Surface condition report - coding

2025 Sept 22

    Definition

    The surface condition report event scenario describes information about contaminations on one or multiple runways, taxiways and/or aprons at one airport.

    Notes:

    • The objective of this scenario is to support the encoding of contamination information about individual runways, taxiways or aprons, as foreseen to be contained in SNOWTAM messages as of 04 November 2021 (ICAO) or 12 August 2021 (EU);

    • Several runways, taxiways and aprons can be included in the surface condition report;

    • The content of the report is considered as described in ICAO Doc 10066 - Aeronautical Information Management, First Edition, Amendment No. 2, 2018, Appendix 4 - SNOWTAM Format and CIR (EU) 2017/373 as amended by CIR (EU) 2020/469 and CIR (EU) 2020/1177 - Appendix 3 SNOWTAM Format.

    • This scenario does not support the encoding of the information about airport, runway closure due to contamination. That information should be encoded using the dedicated AD.CLS or RWY.CLS scenarios.

    Event data

    The following diagram identifies the information items that are usually provided by a data originator for this kind of event.

     

    input = "airport designator" ["airport name"] "runwayCondition" {"runwayCondition"} \n ["taxiway condition" {"taxiway condition"}| "all taxiway poor"] ["apron condition" {"apron condition"}| "all apron poor"] \n ["note"]. runwayCondition = "assessment date and time" "runway designator" "runwaySectionCondition" {"runwaySectionCondition"} \n ["reduced runway width"] ["reduced runway length"] ["special conditions"] ["friction measuring device"] \n ["snow bank side" "snow bank distance" {"snow bank side" "snow bank distance"}] ["adjacent snow bank presence"]. runwaySectionCondition = "runway section" "RWYCC on runway section" ["measured friction coefficient"] \n ["contaminant coverage"] ["loose contaminant depth"] ["contaminant layer order"] "condition description" {["contaminant layer order"] "condition description"}. taxiwayCondition = "taxiway designator" ["taxiway surface condition"] ["taxiway snow bank presence"]. apronCondition = "apron designator" "apron surface condition".

     

    Data item

    Description

    AIXM Mapping

    ICAO SNOWTAM item mapping

    Data item

    Description

    AIXM Mapping

    ICAO SNOWTAM item mapping

    Aeroplane performance calculation section

    airport designator

    The published designator of the airport/heliport concerned. This information, in combination with eventually the name is used to identify the airport/heliport.

    AirportHeliport.designator

    Item A)

    Aerodrome location indicator

    airport name

    The published name of the airport/heliport. This information, in combination with the designator is used to identify the airport/heliport.

    AirportHeliport.name

    -

    (runwayCondition) 
    assessment date and time

    The date and time of the assessment.

    Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.observationTime

    Item B)

    Date-time of assessment

    (runwayCondition) 
    runway designator

    The designator of the runway for which the assessment is provided.

    Note: In a SNOWTAM message only the runway direction designator with the lowest number is inserted for each runway. The HMI should support the operator in assuring the proper selection of the runway by displaying the full designator for selection.

    Runway.designator

    Item C)

    Lower runway designator number

    (runwayCondition) 
    (runwaySectionCondition)
    runway section

    Indicates the part of the runway for which the assessment is provided. This supports indicating contamination information on each third of the runway length.

    Note: the data input template groups the information per runway third. In practice, data originator might prefer to group the information by SNOWTAM item and list all thirds with a "/" separator. The application HMI shall support the operator selection with visual or textual aids so that the order of the thirds are correctly provided i.e. that the first third corresponds with the first third from the RWY side with the lower designator number.

    Runway.areaContaminant.RunwaySectionContamination.section

     

    (runwayCondition) 
    (runwaySectionCondition)
    RWYCC on runway section

    Runway condition code for each runway third.

    Runway.areaContaminant.RunwaySectionContamination.frictionEstimation with values 'OTHER:RWYCC_code'

    Item D)

    Runway Condition Code (RWYCC) on each runway third

    (runwayCondition) 
    (runwaySectionCondition)
    contaminant coverage

    The coverage of the contaminant in per cent for each runway third.

    Runway.areaContaminant.RunwaySectionContamination.proportion

    Item E)

    Per cent coverage contaminant for each runway third

    (runwayCondition) 
    (runwaySectionCondition)
    loose contaminant depth

    Indicates the depth (mm) of loose contaminant for each runway third

    Runway.areaContaminant.RunwaySectionContamination.depth with uom='MM'

    Item F)

    Depth (mm) of loose contaminant for each runway third

    (runwayCondition) 
    (runwaySectionCondition)
    contaminant layer order

    Indicates the order of the layer (starting from the uppermost, towards the movement area surface), in case overlapping contaminants are present.

    Runway.areaContaminant.RunwaySectionContamination.layer/SurfaceContaminationLayer.layerOrder

     

    (runwayCondition) 
    (runwaySectionCondition)
    condition description

    Indicated the contaminant observed on each runway third.

    Runway.areaContaminant.RunwaySectionContamination.layer/SurfaceContaminationLayer.type

    Item G)

    Condition description over total runway length.

    (runwayCondition) 
    reduced runway width

    Width of runway cleared of contamination, if less than the total width.

    Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.clearedWidth with uom="M"

    Item H)

    Width of runway to which the runway condition codes apply, if less than published width

    Situational awareness section

    (runwayCondition) 
    reduced runway length

    Length of runway cleared of contamination, if less than the total length of the runway.

    Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.clearedLength with uom='M'

    Item I)

    Reduced runway length, if less than published length

    (runwayCondition) 
    special conditions

    Indication of the presence of drifting snow, loose sand and/or chemical treatment on the runway.

    Note: The HMI should support the operator by providing only the three options available for input.

    AirportHeliport.contaminant.AirportHeliportContamination.layer.SurfaceContaminationLayer.type

    (for larger airports,  where drifting snow occurs on multiple runways, but not all) Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.layer.SurfaceContaminationLayer.type

    Item J) Drifting snow on the runway

    Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.layer.SurfaceContaminationLayer.type

    Item K) Loose sand on the runway

    Item L) Chemical treatment on the runway

    (runwayCondition) 
    snowbank side

    Indication of the side of the runway relative to its centreline where snowbanks are present.

    Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.criticalRidge/Ridge.side

     

    Item M)

    Snowbanks on the runway (from centreline)

    (runwayCondition) 
    snowbank distance

    Indication of the distance from the runway centreline where snowbanks are present.

    Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.criticalRidge.Ridge.distance with uom="M" and

    Ridge.annotation with propertyName='distance', purpose='DESCRIPTION' and note='distance measured from runway centerline'

    (runwayCondition) 
    adjacent snowbank presence

    Indication of the presence of snowbanks adjacent to the runway

    Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.annotation.Note with purpose='REMARK' , propertyName='criticalRidge' and note='Snowbanks present adjacent to the runway'

    Item O)

    Snowbanks adjacent to the runway

    (taxiwayCondition) 
    taxiway designator

    The designator of the taxiway for which the assessment is provided.

    Taxiway.designator

    Item N)

    Snowbanks on a taxiway

    (taxiwayCondition) 
    taxiway snowbank presence

    Indication of the presence of snowbanks on a taxiway

    Taxiway.contaminant/TaxiwayContamination.annotation.Note with purpose='REMARK' , propertyName='criticalRidge' and note='Snowbanks present on the taxiway'

    (taxiwayCondition) 
    taxiway surface condition

    Indication of the taxiway surface condition

    Taxiway.contaminant.TaxiwayContamination.frictionEstimation 

    Item P)

    Taxiway conditions

    all taxiway poor

    Indication that all TWY at the airport are in poor condition

    AirportHeliport.contaminant.AirportHeliportContamination.annotation.Note with purpose='REMARK' and note='All TWYs poor'

    (apronCondition)
    apron designator

    The designator of the apron for which the assessment is provided.

    Apron.name

    Item R)

    Apron conditions

    (apronCondition)
    apron surface condition

    Indication of the apron surface condition

    Apron.contaminant.ApronContamination.frictionEstimation

    all apron poor

    Indication that all apron at the airport are in poor condition

    AirportHeliport.contaminant.AirportHeliportContamination.annotation.Note with purpose='REMARK' and note='All aprons poor'

    (runwayCondition) 
    (runwaySectionCondition) measured friction coefficient

    Indication of the measured friction coefficient, according to the State approved means.

    Runway.areaContaminant.RunwaySectionContamination.frictionCoefficient

    Item S)

    Measured friction coefficient

    (runwayCondition) 
    friction measuring device

    Indication of the friction measuring device, according to the State approved means.

    Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.frictionDevice

    note

    A  free text note that provides further details concerning the surface condition report.

    AirportHeliport.contaminant.AirportHeliportContamination.annotation.Note with purpose='REMARK' 

    Item T)

    Plain language remarks

    Assumptions for baseline data

    It is assumed that following BASELINE TimeSlices covering the entire duration of the event exist and have been coded as specified in the Coding Guidelines for the (ICAO) AIP Data Set:

    The coding rules for the situational awareness section provide two options:

    (1) using TEMPDELTA TimeSlices for individual Apron and/or Taxiway  

    (2) using annotations

    The first option can be used only when the corresponding BASELINE data is also available:

    • Taxiway BASELINE which contains as a minimum a designator and an association with the AirportHeliport; 

    • Apron BASELINE which contains as a minimum a designator and an association with the AirportHeliport; 

    Both options are detailed in the coding rules and should be supported in the interface. Option 2 (using annotations) should be enable, at the discretion of the data coding operator, even in the situation when Taxiway and Apron BASELINE data is available.

    Data encoding rules

    The data encoding rules provided in this section shall be followed in order to ensure the harmonisation of the digital encodings provided by different sources. To the maximum possible extent, the compliance with these encoding rules shall be verified with automatic data validation rules.

    Identifier

    Data encoding rule

    Identifier

    Data encoding rule

    ER-01

    The surface condition report shall be encoded as:

    • a new Event with a BASELINE TimeSlice ( scenario=”SFC.CON”, version=”2.0”), for which a PERMDELTA TimeSlice may also be provided; and

    • a TimeSlice of type TEMPDELTA for each affected Runway, for which the "event:theEvent" property points to the Event instance created above.

    • if applicable, additional TEMPDELTA TimeSlices for the affected AirportHeliport,  Taxiway and/or Apron features as detailed below. Such TimeSlice shall have the "event:theEvent" property points to the Event instance created above.

    ER-02

    The TimeSlice.validTime of the affected Features TEMPDELTAs, the EventTimeSlice.validTime and EventTimeSlice.featureLifetime shall have TimePeriod.beginPosition equal to the latest of all Runway/RunwayContamination.observationTime coded in relation with the Event

    Reason: When reporting on more than one runway and individual dates/times of observation/assessment are indicated by repeated Item B, the latest date/time of observation/assessment is inserted in the abbreviated heading. This is considered the start of the SNOWTAM validity.

    ER-03

    The TimeSlice.validTime of the affected Features TEMPDELTAs, the EventTimeSlice.validTime and EventTimeSlice.featureLifetime shall have TimePeriod.endPosition set 8h after the TimePeriod.beginPosition.

    Reason: Maximum SNOWTAM validity is 8h.

    ER-04

    All three sections (thirds) shall always be present and each of the following values shall only be used once for the Runway/RunwaySectionContamination.section:

    • 1_THIRD

    • 2_THIRD

    • 3_THIRD

     

    ER-05

    Only the following values are allowed for Runway/RunwaySectionContamination.frictionEstimation:

    • OTHER:RWYCC_0

    • OTHER:RWYCC_1

    • OTHER:RWYCC_2

    • OTHER:RWYCC_3

    • OTHER:RWYCC_4

    • OTHER:RWYCC_5

    • OTHER:RWYCC_6

     

    ER-06

    Only the following values shall be used for Runway/RunwaySectionContamination/SurfaceContaminationLayer.type:

    • COMPACT_SNOW

    • DRY_SNOW

    • FROST

    • ICE

    • SLUSH

    • OTHER:DRY

    • OTHER:STANDING_WATER

    • OTHER:SLIPPERY_WET (Note: EASA)

    • OTHER:PREPARED_WINTER_RUNWAY (Note: EASA)

    • OTHER:WET

    • OTHER:WET_ICE

    • WET_SNOW

     

    ER-07

    Only the following values shall be used for Runway.overallContaminant.RunwayContamination.layer.SurfaceContaminationLayer.type and/or for the AirportHeliport.contaminant.AirportHeliportContamination.layer.SurfaceContaminationLayer.type

    • OTHER:DRIFTING_SNOW

    • OTHER:LOOSE_SAND

    • OTHER:CHEMICAL_TREATMENT

    ER-08

    In case of multiple Runway/RunwaySectionContamination/SurfaceContaminationLayer.layerOrder, only the following combinations are allowed:

    • layerOrder='1', type='DRY_SNOW' and layerOrder='2', type='COMPACT_SNOW'

    • layerOrder='1', type='DRY_SNOW' and layerOrder='2', type='ICE'

    • layerOrder='1', type='OTHER:STANDING_WATER' and layerOrder='2', type='COMPACT_SNOW'

    • layerOrder='1', type='WET_SNOW' and layerOrder='2', type='COMPACT_SNOW'

    • layerOrder='1', type='WET_SNOW' and layerOrder='2', type='ICE'

    ER-09

    The maximum value of Runway/RunwaySectionContamination/SurfaceContaminationLayer.layerOrder is 2.

    ER-10

    snowbanks adjacent to the runway shall be encoded as Runway.overallContamination.RunwayContamination.annotation.Note with purpose='REMARK' , propertyName='criticalRidge'  and note='Snowbanks present adjacent to the runway'