Wet Runway is defined as which of the following?

Wet Runway is defined as which of the following?

• A. A runway that has less than 1/8 Inch of water covering the area of the runway to be used for takeoff or landing
• B. A runway with standing water across the full surface
• C. A dry runway
• D. A runway with ice or snow

Answer: (A)

Wet runway means there’s a thin film of water on the usable surface, shallow enough that the water depth is less than about 1/8 inch. This small amount of moisture changes tire friction and braking effectiveness, so braking action is reduced compared to a dry runway, and there’s a higher risk of hydroplaning at higher speeds. It isn’t dry because water is present, and it isn’t standing water across the whole surface, which would indicate a heavier condition with more surface water. It also isn’t ice or snow, which would be a distinct surface condition requiring different procedures.

Wet runway means there’s a thin film of water on the usable surface, shallow enough that the water depth is less than about 1/8 inch. This small amount of moisture changes tire friction and braking effectiveness, so braking action is reduced compared to a dry runway, and there’s a higher risk of hydroplaning at higher speeds. It isn’t dry because water is present, and it isn’t standing water across the whole surface, which would indicate a heavier condition with more surface water. It also isn’t ice or snow, which would be a distinct surface condition requiring different procedures.