Runway Safety: Rethinking Assessments Amid Heavy Rainfall

The National Transportation Safety Board urges the Federal Aviation Administration to revise runway condition assessments during heavy rainfall. This call comes after investigations into 11 runway overrun incidents from 2008 to 2022, highlighting safety risks such as the 2019 Boeing 737 skidding in Jacksonville due to rain-induced hydroplaning.

In response to increasing concerns over aviation safety, the National Transportation Safety Board has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to overhaul its assessment processes for runway conditions during periods of heavy rainfall.

The NTSB's recommendation comes after a thorough investigation of 11 runway overrun incidents occurring between 2008 and 2022. These incidents were primarily the result of aircraft landing on wet runways.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the board referenced a 2019 incident involving a Boeing 737 in Jacksonville, Florida. The accident was partly attributed to a significant loss of braking friction due to the heavy rain and water accumulation on the runway, leading to a phenomenon known as viscous hydroplaning.