Runway Friction Index

It is so useless we don't put it on the ATIS anymore

It's useless because pilots don't know what the number means, or what to
do about it. Pilots aren't told what it means because it's not much
used. It's not much used because...

So... what do the numbers correspond to? That is, if I hear a mu of 33,
what can I expect?

Jose
--
Nothing takes longer than a shortcut.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

"Newps" wrote in message
Yes, our airport can report in mu. I have yet to find the airline pilot
who finds those three numbers useful. They always ask for the standard
braking action report.

Consider myself found.

One night not so long ago, DTW approach switched runways on us while on the
base leg. It was unplowed. The first airplane to land on it was a Westwind.
The Westwind's crew reported braking as fair. Four inches of snow will stop
a Westwind.

I copied his report but considerd the source. A standard braking action
report is only as good as the crew making the report. Sure enough, the
Westwind's fair braking was down right poor for our big tires and 160,000
pounds. We got stopped, but only because of the thrust reversers.

This was the same night that SWA ran off the runway at MDW.

D.