One of my favorite aspects of winter is the peaceful calm after fresh snowfall. The snow softens all sound, and the undisturbed scene looks beautiful. Coincidentally, this is one of my least favorite things to encounter as a pilot. When I am flying, I much prefer the sight of snow removal equipment and clear blacktop. If you regularly fly in winter weather, you might be used to landing on something other than clear, clean pavement. Contaminated runways incur several hazards. On takeoff, they can exert additional drag on wheels and tires, preventing normal acceleration to lift-off speed and dramatically increasing stopping distance in the event of an aborted takeoff. On landing, the reduced friction can result in overruns and other unintentional runway departures. Let's explore what you can do about contaminated runways and what to look for. There are a few advisory circulars that are worth reviewing if you want to brush up on contaminated runway operations. Much of the content in AC 91-79A (Mitigating the Risks of Runway Overrun Upon Landing) and AC 25-31 (Takeoff Performance Data for Operations on Contaminated Runways) references jet aircraft, but it is relevant to airplanes of all shapes and sizes.
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