I read this discussion and discovered the definition of "slippery when wet" from this advisory circular but I'm still having a hard time understanding why the runway condition is expressed as "slippery when wet" rather than just as "slippery." My guess is that the wet runway normally doesn't bring a slippery runway condition but it sometimes does and in that case it's expressed as "slippery when wet" rather than just "slippery." Is my guess correct?
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asked Sep 29, 2017 at 11:13
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$\begingroup$ @Federico Corrected $\endgroup$– lemoninciderSep 30, 2017 at 6:55
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1 Answer
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why the runway condition is expressed as "slippery when wet" rather than just as "slippery."
Because the runway is normally not slippery, and thus it cannot be described simply as "slippery", but it must be specified when this occurs, particularly when it is wet it is slippery.
Saying only "slippery" would mean that the runway is always slippery, and is not the case.
Saying only "wet" does not convey the information that it is also slippery in that condition. (and you want to specify this because not all runways are slippery when wet)
It is not said "slippery when icy" because "when icy" everything is slippery, so that does not need specification, "icy" is sufficient.
"slippery when snowy" I never heard of it, generally because either the runway gets snowploughed fast enough, or because when there is too much snow the runway gets closed.
answered Sep 29, 2017 at 11:29
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3$\begingroup$ I feel this answer is along the lines of this video: youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM $\endgroup$– FedericoSep 29, 2017 at 11:31
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$\begingroup$ Thank you for your reply. So if the runway is slippery due to ice, is it reported as "slippery when icy" and if the runway is slippery due to snow, is it reported as "slippery with snow"? $\endgroup$ Sep 29, 2017 at 11:35
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