EASA SIB 2018-02: WITHDRAWN - RECOMMENDATIONS NOT NEEDED ANYMORE. Topic addressed by Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012

What to do

Operators and flight crews should ensure compliance with Commission Regulation (EU) 965/2012 regarding approach and landing conditions, including verifying runway and weather conditions before landing. Operators should incorporate runway surface condition reporting methodologies into their Safety Management Systems, focusing on critical aerodromes and available information sources. Flight crew training should emphasize understanding and using runway condition reports effectively. No specific compliance deadlines are stated, but ongoing rulemaking actions target implementation by 5 November 2020.

Summary

EASA Safety Information Bulletin 2018-02 is an informational document addressing runway surface condition reporting and its impact on flight safety. It highlights the lack of global standardisation in assessing and reporting runway surface conditions and braking action, which affects operators and flight crews. The bulletin references ongoing rulemaking efforts and international initiatives to improve runway condition reporting and performance assessment.

What changed

EASA SIB 2018-02 does not introduce new regulations but informs stakeholders about ongoing rulemaking tasks and international efforts such as the FAA's TALPA initiative and ICAO's improved runway condition assessment methodology. It outlines the development of standardized reporting formats, terminology, and performance correlation to enhance safety. The document also notes that no operational directive under Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 is currently warranted.

Why it matters

Accurate and timely runway surface condition reporting is critical for safe aircraft operations, affecting landing performance calculations and directional control. Aviation professionals must understand the risks of unreliable reporting and the importance of standardised information to prevent runway excursions. The bulletin helps operators and flight crews prepare for upcoming regulatory changes and improve safety management practices related to runway conditions.