The National Transportation Safety Board is calling on the Federal Aviation Administration to overhaul existing wet runway landing guidance. The request follows an analysis of 11 runway overrun incidents occurring between 2008 and 2022.
Investigations indicate that current runway condition assessment matrix protocols frequently underestimate the landing distances required during heavy precipitation. The NTSB reports that wheel braking friction on wet surfaces is often significantly lower than current models suggest, creating an elevated risk for flight crews.
A core issue highlighted by the board is the limitation of existing aviation weather reporting. Current rainfall intensity descriptors fail to categorize events that exceed the standard threshold of 0.3 inches per hour. As weather patterns shift, the board suggests that existing reporting tools are becoming increasingly insufficient for modern operational needs.
The NTSB has proposed three primary actions for the FAA. These include updating runway condition codes to reflect the decrease in friction associated with higher rainfall, expanding weather descriptors to identify extreme rain events, and integrating these findings into the standard matrix. Industry observers and operators are encouraged to review the full technical findings available through the NTSB website.