How Do I Report Braking Action?

Be sure to note the details in pilot reports when you conduct your preflight planning.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 01:51 PM ET

Verified

Pilot reports about the braking action are very useful for planning during rainy or icy weather. [Credit: Jim Stevenson]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots should rely on Pilot Reports (PIREPS) for braking action information, which should include terms like good, medium, poor, or nil, the affected runway portion, and aircraft type.
Braking action information may also be available through ATIS broadcasts at the airport.
In less than optimal conditions, critical pilot technique involves managing energy, touching down slowly and softly at the approach end, and utilizing aerodynamic braking instead of relying heavily on wheel brakes.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Question: The runway at my airport measures 3,650 feet by 60 feet. Because it is winter, there’s a lot of rain, and sometimes ice, which can make the runway really slippery, yet people are still flying. Everyone tells the story about the Cessna pilot who slid off the end of the runway because of slick conditions—I don’t want to be chapter two. How do I know if my brakes are going to be enough? I don’t want to run out of braking power and runway at the same time.

Answer: