SNOWTAM 2020 Briefing

SNOWTAM 2020
Introduction to the ICAO EUR/NAT SNOWTAM Guidance
Abbas NIKNEJAD
Regional Officer, Air Navigation System Implementation
ICAO EUR/NAT Office, Paris
SNOWTAM 2020 Webinar

28 May 2020
1
GRF Process
• GRF: A globally-harmonized methodology for runway surface conditions assessment and
reporting to provide reports that are directly related to the performance of aeroplanes.
Initiation Distribution Use

Aeronautical information services
Aerodrome operator assess the (AIS) provide the information Aircraft operators utilize the
runway surface conditions, received in the RCR to end users information in conjunction with the
including contaminants, for each (SNOWTAM) performance data provided by the
third of the runway length, and aircraft manufacturer to determine
report it by mean of a uniform if landing or take-off operations can
Air traffic services (ATS) provide the be conducted safely and provide
runway condition report (RCR) information received via the RCR to runway braking action special air-
end users (radio, ATIS) and received report (AIREP)
special air-reports
2
Dissemination of information
• Through the AIS and ATS: 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
snow, slush, ice or frost.
• SNOWTAM
AIS
• Voice
ATS • ATIS
3
SNOWTAM vs ATIS vs ATC Radio
(pros and cons)
SNOWTAM ATIS ATC Radio
Comprehensiveness of High Medium Medium
(information provided by (ATIS message should be (ATC message on radio
information SNOWTAM is short, no detailed should be short; no
comprehensive/detailed) information) detailed information)
4
(pros and cons)
Timeliness (promptness) Low Medium High
(SNOWTAM needs time to (ATIS information is (ATC can pass information
be processed) updated on regular basis) on radio instantly)
5
(pros and cons)
Makes Controller Low Low High
workload
6
(pros and cons)
workload
Makes pilot workload Low Medium Medium
during flight
7
(pros and cons)
workload
Makes pilot workload Low Medium Medium
during flight
8
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.
9
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.
10
New SNOWTAM Provisions &
SNOWTAM Format
11
• The ICAO EUR/NAT Office in collaboration with
the EUR States, EUROCONTROL (AIM/SWIM
Team and EAD), EASA and ICAO HQ prepared
this document to provide explanation and
examples for issuing SNOWTAM in the new
format.
• This guidance material was endorsed by the
European Aviation System Planning Group
(EASPG) through correspondence in February
2020.
https
://www.icao.int/EURNAT/EUR%20and%20NAT%20Docum
ents/EUR%20Documents/EUR%20Documents/Guidance
%20on%20the%20Issuance%20of%20SNOWTAM.pdf 12
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.
Frost is a deposit of small white ice crystals formed on the ground or other surfaces when the temperature falls below freezing
13
Water (wet) vs Standing water
Water on Associated
runway 3mm WET with snow, N ATIS
slush, ice
or less or frost
ATIS
Y
SNOWTAM
01150915 09R 5/5/5 100/100/100 NR/NR/NR
WET/WET/WET
Water on ATIS
STANDING
runway 4mm WATER
or more SNOWTAM
01150915 09R 5/2/2 100/50/50 NR/08/12 WET/STANDING

WATER/STANDING WATER
14
SNOWTAM 2020 Provisions
• Metric units shall be used in SNOWTAM and the unit of measurement (e.g. mm, cm,
m, etc.) should not be reported.
• As of 5 November 2020, the maximum validity of SNOWTAM is 8 hours.
• A SNOWTAM cancels the previous SNOWTAM. When a new SNOWTAM is issued
for a specific aerodrome that has another valid SNOWTAM, the new one
automatically replaces the older SNOWTAM (there is no need to reference the older
SNOWTAM in the new SNOWTAM, as what we do for NOTAM).
• the letters used to indicate items (A to T; third column of the SNOWTAM template) are
only used for reference purpose and should not be included in the messages.
Example (items B to G): 01150915 12L 5/2/2 100/50/75 NR/06/06

WET/SLUSH/SLUSH
15
Mandatory information in SNOWTAM:
• Item A - Aerodrome location indicator (EADD)
• Item B - Date and time of assessment (11111035)
• Item C - Lower runway designator number (09R)
• Item D - Runway condition code (RWYCC) for each runway third (5/4/4)
• Item G - Condition description for each runway third (SLUSH/COMPACTED
SNOW/COMPACTED SNOW) (mandatory only when RWYCC is reported 1 to 5; not needed if
RWYCC is 0 or 6)
Example: a SNOWTAM with the minimum (mandatory) information
GG EADBZTZX …
111045 EADDYNYX
SWEA0124 EADD 01111035
(SNOWTAM 0124
EADD 09 5/4/4 NR/NR/NR
011110 SLUSH/COMPACTED
35 R NR/NR/NR SNOW/COMPACTED SNOW)
16
ABBREVIATED HEADING TTAAiiii CCCC MMYYGGgg (BBB)
• TT = data designator for SNOWTAM = SW;
• AA = geographical designator for States, e.g. LF = FRANCE, EG = United Kingdom (see Location Indicators (Doc 7910),
Part 2, Index to Nationality Letters for Location Indicators);
• iiii = SNOWTAM serial number in a four-digit group;
• CCCC = four-letter location indicator of the aerodrome to which the SNOWTAM refers (see Location Indicators (Doc 7910));
• MMYYGGgg = date/time of observation/measurement, whereby:
• MM = month, e.g. January = 01, December = 12
• YY = day of the month
• GGgg = time in hours (GG) and minutes (gg) UTC;
• (BBB) = optional group for correction, in the case of an error, to a SNOWTAM message previously disseminated with the
same serial number = COR
Example: SWLF0149 LFPG 11070620

SNOWTAM Serial Number SNOWTAM iiii
SNOWTAM = The text “SNOWTAM” in the SNOWTAM Format;
iiii = SNOWTAM serial number in a four-digit group;
Example: SNOWTAM 0149

Note — The SNOWTAM serial number resets at the beginning of each calendar year (begins with SNOWTAM 0001 on January
1 at 0000 UTC).
17
SNOWTAM 2020 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
18
LFPG
12040638 08L 5/2/2 75/50/75 NR/06/06 WET/SLUSH/SLUSH
19
LFPG
20
LFPG
21
LFPG
22
`
LFPG
23
LFPG
24
LFPG
25
LFPG
26
LFPG
27
LFPG
28
29
LFPG When no information is to be reported in item E, insert “NR” (/NR/).
30
Percentage of coverage of contaminants (Item E)
Assessed percent Reported percent
- Less than 10 %; or NR
- Runway condition is “DRY” (item G) & RWYCC=6 (item D); or
- If the percent is not reported
10-25 % 25
26-50 % 50
51-75 % 75
76-100 % 100
31
LFPG When no information is to be reported in item F, insert “NR” (/NR/).
32
Depth assessment for contaminants
33
LFPG
34
RWY Surface Description (Item G) vs RWYCC (Item D)
RWY Surface Description (item G) RWYCC (item D)
DRY 6
FROST 5
- WET (dampness/water up to and including 3mm) 5
- WET (Slippery wet) 3
- STANDING WATER (more than 3mm) 2
- WATER ON TOP OF COMPACTED SNOW 0
- SLUSH (up to and including 3mm) 5
- SLUSH (more than 3mm) 2
- DRY SNOW / WET SNOW (up to and including 3mm) 5
- DRY SNOW / WET SNOW (more than 3mm) 3
- DRY SNOW / WET SNOW (any depth) ON TOP OF COMPACTED SNOW 3
- DRY SNOW / WET SNOW (any depth) ON TOP OF ICE 0
- COMPACTED SNOW (outside temperature -15 C or lower) 4
- COMPACTED SNOW (outside temperature higher than -15 C) 3
- ICE 1
- WET ICE 0
35
LFPG
36
Repeating information in the aeroplane performance calculation section for more than one
runway:
• when a SNOWTAM is reporting on more than one runway of the aerodrome for which the
SNOWTAM is issued, Items B to H (aeroplane performance calculation section) should be
repeated.
Example:
LFPG
02170135 08R 5/2/2 100/75/75 NR/06/06 WET/SLUSH/SLUSH
02170225 08C 2/3/3 75/100/100 06/12/12 SLUSH/WET SNOW/WET SNOW
35
02170245 08L 3/3/3 50/50/75 08/15/10 WET SNOW/WET SNOW/WET
37
Significant Change
• New SNOWTAM shall be issued whenever a new runway condition report (RCR) is
received from the aerodrome operator.
• RCR shall be initiated when a significant change in runway surface condition occurs.
• A change in the runway surface condition is considered significant whenever there is:
a) any change in the RWYCC (ref. item D);
b) any change in contaminant type (ref. item G);
c) any change in reportable contaminant coverage/percentage (ref. item E);
d) any change in contaminant depth (ref. item F); 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.
• Reporting of the runway surface condition should continue to reflect significant
changes until the runway is no longer contaminated.
38
LFPG
02170225 08C 2/3/3 75/100/100 06/12/12 SLUSH/WET SNOW/WET SNOW 35
02170245 08L 3/3/3 50/50/75 08/15/10 WET SNOW/WET SNOW/WET SNOW 40
RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE SAND.
RWY 08L CHEMICALLY TREATED. RWY 08R SNOWBANK R20 FM CL. TWY
A SNOWBANK. RWY 08R ADJACENT SNOWBANKS. TWY B POOR. APRON
NORTH POOR.) 39
RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE
SAND. RWY 08L CHEMICALLY TREATED. RWY 08R SNOWBANK
R20 FM CL. TWY A SNOWBANK. RWY 08R ADJACENT
SNOWBANKS. TWY B POOR. APRON NORTH POOR.)
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE SAND. RWY 08L
CHEMICALLY TREATED. RWY 08R SNOWBANK R20 FM CL. TWY A SNOWBANK.
RWY 08R ADJACENT SNOWBANKS. TWY B POOR. APRON NORTH POOR.)
Note 1.— Elements in the situational awareness section end with a full stop.
Note 2.— Elements in the situational awareness section for which no information exists, or
where the conditional circumstances for publication are not fulfilled, are left out completely.
Note 3.— The situational awareness section shall be separated from the aeroplane performance
calculation section by an empty line.
50
Repeating information in the situational awareness section:
When reported, the information in the situational awareness section could be repeated, as applicable, for each
runway, taxiway and apron.
Option 1: it is recommended that the items of situational awareness section be kept in alphabetical order
when repeated (item I) to S)). It means that item I) should be repeated for several runways (if applicable) and
then item J), then item K), etc. and item T) ends the SNOWTAM message. Example:
• DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 09L LOOSE SAND. RWY 09R LOOSE
SAND. RWY 09L CHEMICALLY TREATED. RWY 09R CHEMICALLY
TREATED. RWY 09C CHEMICALLY TREATED.)
Option 2: repeat all relevant items of the same runway (item I) to M)) for each runway, then to continue with
the rest of the items (item N) to T)). Example:
• DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 09L LOOSE SAND. RWY 09L CHEMICALLY
TREATED. RWY 09R LOOSE SAND.RWY 09R CHEMICALLY
TREATED. RWY 09C CHEMICALLY TREATED.)
• Note — since there is no specific guideline/rule for repeating items in the situational awareness section,
NOTAM systems should be flexible to receive and process situational awareness information in any order.
• Note — items in the situational awareness section are separated by a full stop and a space (item L. item
M. item N. etc.) 51
GG XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
Example of a complete SNOWTAM
170300 LFFAYNYX
SWLF0149 LFPG 02170245
(SNOWTAM 149
LFPG
02170225 08C 2/3/3 75/100/100 06/12/12 SLUSH/WET SNOW/WET
SNOW 35
SNOW 40

SAND. RWY 08L CHEMICALLY TREATED. RWY 08R SNOWBANK 52
170300 LFFAYNYX
SWLF0149 LFPG 02170245
(SNOWTAM 149
LFPG
SNOW 35
SNOW 40

170300 LFFAYNYX
SWLF0149 LFPG 02170245
(SNOWTAM 149
LFPG
SNOW 35
SNOW 40

170300 LFFAYNYX
SWLF0149 LFPG 02170245
(SNOWTAM 149
LFPG
SNOW 35
SNOW 40

170300 LFFAYNYX
SWLF0149 LFPG 02170245
(SNOWTAM 149
LFPG
SNOW 35
SNOW 40

170300 LFFAYNYX
SWLF0149 LFPG 02170245
(SNOWTAM 149
LFPG
SNOW 35
SNOW 40

170300 LFFAYNYX
SWLF0149 LFPG 02170245
(SNOWTAM 149
LFPG
SNOW 35
SNOW 40

Guidance on the issuance of SNOWTAM is
available on:
www.icao.int/eurnat --> EUR/NAT Documents -->

EUR Documents --> second page
Submit any comments, observations or

suggestions on this document to the ICAO
EUR/NAT Office: icaoeurnat@paris.icao.int
https
://www.icao.int/EURNAT/EUR%20and%20NAT%20Do
cuments/EUR%20Documents/EUR%20Documents/Gu
idance%20on%20the%20Issuance%20of%20SNOWT 59
60

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SNOWTAM 2020

Introduction to the ICAO EUR/NAT SNOWTAM Guidance

SNOWTAM 2020 Webinar

Initiation Distribution Use

Amendment 39B arises from:

• Recommendations of the Friction Task Force of the

01150915 09R 5/2/2 100/50/50 NR/08/12 WET/STANDING

Example (items B to G): 01150915 12L 5/2/2 100/50/75 NR/06/06

Example: a SNOWTAM with the minimum (mandatory) information

Example: SWLF0149 LFPG 11070620

Example: SNOWTAM 0149

1: Aeroplane performance Section 2: Situational Awareness Section

RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE

RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE

RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE

RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE

RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE

RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE

RWY 08L REDUCED TO 2800. DRIFTING SNOW. RWY 08L LOOSE

www.icao.int/eurnat --> EUR/NAT Documents -->

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