The Runway Condition Problem in Winter Operations
An aircraft landing on a runway depends on friction between the tyres and the surface to stop within the available distance. If the runway surface is icy, wet, or snow-covered, the braking distance increases — and the safety margin narrows. In serious cases, the margin runs out before the end of the runway.
International standards, including ICAO Annex 14 and the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM), require airports to systematically assess and report runway surface conditions in a standardised way. This is a requirement directly tied to the safety of aviation operations.
Why Subjective Assessment Is Not Enough
Human assessment varies
Traditional runway condition assessment relies on a trained inspector driving the runway and reporting surface state based on visual observation and experience. Results vary between inspectors and for the same inspector under different conditions. The goal of the RCAM standard is to standardise reporting — but without objective measurement, standardisation only goes halfway.
Conditions change faster than inspection cycles
In rapidly changing weather — freezing rain, snow turning to rain, or a rapid temperature drop — runway conditions can shift significantly in minutes. A fixed inspection cycle of, say, 30-minute intervals can miss a critical change entirely.
Teconer's Solution for Runway Condition Monitoring
RCM511 for friction and surface condition
The Teconer RCM511 is a vehicle-mounted optical sensor that reports surface condition, coefficient of friction, water layer thickness, and ice layer thickness as the vehicle traverses the runway. The sensor uses spectral analysis of reflected infrared light, distinguishing between dry, wet, icy, and snow-covered surfaces. Data is transmitted in real time to the roadweather.online system and can be integrated into airport operations management platforms.
RCM511W for water layer measurement
The RCM511W sensor is specifically designed to measure water layer thickness on runways, with measurement capability up to 15 mm. Water accumulation on runways is a critical factor in aquaplaning risk for landing aircraft. The RCM511W provides a quantitative measurement — not a classification or estimate — of the water present on the surface.
Combined monitoring with RCM511+W
For airports requiring the full picture, the RCM511+W combines both sensor systems in a single installation: comprehensive surface condition and friction data from the RCM511 together with extended water layer measurement from the RCM511W. The combination supports all elements of RCAM reporting in a single pass of the runway.
Supporting Standards and Reporting
Teconer’s runway monitoring solutions are designed to support the data requirements of international aviation safety standards. Accurate, timestamped, sensor-based condition data provides a consistent basis for NOTAM reporting and operational decision-making. When conditions deteriorate, the data supports timely and accurate communication to flight crews.
As to winter maintenance operations the payback period of Teconer runway sensors can be very fast. Based on surface condition measurements it may be possible to avoid one unnecessary spreading of de-icing chemicals and to save more than the cost of one sensor.