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These NOTAMs for KSGF state "Snow" when the icon on the left is hovered over with a mouse. The contraction "FICON" does not appear in the Notam Contractions list.

It is currently the middle of June in nearby Oklahoma, and it is hot here, so a NOTAM related to snow doesn't make any sense.

What are these NOTAMs telling us?

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  • $\begingroup$ FAA JO 7930.107 FICON Reporting $\endgroup$
    – Ron Beyer
    Jun 9, 2020 at 16:36
  • $\begingroup$ @RonBeyer a few appropriate excerpts from that PDF and you've got yourself an answer... $\endgroup$
    – FreeMan
    Jun 9, 2020 at 16:39
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    $\begingroup$ KSGF is in Missouri. Not that it makes any difference to your question. $\endgroup$
    – TomMcW
    Jun 9, 2020 at 18:21
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    $\begingroup$ I've wondered that before, why FICON does not appear in the NOTAMs contractions list. $\endgroup$
    – J W
    Jun 9, 2020 at 18:24
  • $\begingroup$ @TomMcW thanks, I wasn't paying attention. $\endgroup$
    – Ryan Mortensen
    Jun 9, 2020 at 19:51

1 Answer 1

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FICON is outlined in FAA JO 7930.107 "FICON REPORTING".

FICON is the "FIeld CONditions reporting. It identifies information that used to be called "braking action", but is now a little more succinct.

The conditions for the runway are reported in thirds, [First Third]/[Middle Third]/[Last Third], with the following data outlined on page 6:

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So 5/5/5 means that the runway is covered with frost or is wet and is "damp or 1/8" or less of standing water". Pilots used to report this as "good" braking action.

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