Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA)

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Water, snow, ice, and slush on runways and taxiways can create hazardous conditions for aircraft.

The Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) initiative reduces the risk of runway overruns by providing airport operators with a method to accurately and consistently determine runway conditions when a paved runway is not dry. Federally obligated airports and many other airports use TALPA procedures to conduct runway assessments and to report those conditions in Field Condition (FICON) Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).

FICON NOTAMs provide pilots and flight planners information that helps determine the runway length needed to safely stop an aircraft after a rejected takeoff or a landing.


TALPA Update Meeting (July 11 and 12, 2017)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and members of the aviation community met on July 11-12, 2017, to share data on new standards developed to improve safety at U.S. airports during inclement weather. Read more on the TALPA Update Meeting.

TALPA Resources

The following tables identifies existing FAA publications that are significant to the TALPA initiative. Additional publications will be added to the tables for use by the aviation community in the next several months.

Additional information can be found on the National Business Aviation Association's (NBAA) site. Educational videos are also available on the NBAA YouTube channel.

For Operators & Pilots

For Operators & Pilots
Resource Purpose Publication Date
Order 8900.1, Volume 4, Chapter 3, Section 1, paragraph 4-503 (PDF)

Provides a method for determining landing distance required for turbojet and turboprop airplane operators that do not have manufacturer-provided, airplane-specific TALPA data.

(See the FAA's Flight Standards Information Management System for the current version of Order 8900.1, Volume 4, Chapter 3, Section 1.)

11/13/2017
SAFO 16009 Runway Assessment and Condition Reporting, Effective October 1, 2016 (PDF) Highlights the TALPA initiative processes. 08/15/2016
AC 91-79A, Mitigating the Risks of a Runway Overrun Upon Landing Provides ways for pilots and airplane operators to identify, understand, and mitigate risks associated with runway overruns during landing. 04/28/2016
Operational (Pilots) Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) Braking Action Codes and Definitions (PDF) A matrix used to interpret runway condition codes and to define observed assessment criteria. 08/2016
Reportable Contaminants in Field Condition (FICON) Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) (PDF) Identifies reportable contaminants as well as the reportable depths. 06/07/2016

For Airport Operators

For Airport Operators
Resource Purpose Publication Date
CertAlert 18-07: NOTAM Procedure Awareness Associated with Winter Operations (PDF) Emphasizes key NOTAM procedures identified in Advisory Circular 150/5200-28F, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for Airport Operators. Reminds certificate holders and other airport operators that following best practices for Work In Progress (WIP) NOTAMs, Conditions Not Monitored versus Condition Not Reported NOTAMs, Field Condition NOTAMs (FICONs) and timely notification to appropriate air traffic control (ATC) facilities, and the New Field Condition NOTAM policy about the term "Patchy" will enhance NOTAM effectiveness and overall winter operations safety at airports.  
AC 150/5200-28F, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for Airport Operators Provides guidance on using the NOTAM system for reporting airport facilities changes or outages and for utilizing the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix for airport condition reporting. 12/30/2016
CertAlert 16-10: Announcement of Publication of New Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5200-28F, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for Airport Operators (PDF) Announces the release of AC 150/5200-28F, which provides guidance on using the NOTAM system for airport condition reporting. 12/30/2016
Airport Condition Reporting and the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) Presentation with Notes (MS PowerPoint) Self-pace presentation with note pages that illustrates revisions to the process of assessing and reporting runway surface conditions. 10/2016
CertAlert 16-06: Announcement of the Take Off and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) Initiative Implementation Date and Time (PDF) Reminds airport operators of the October 1, 2016, TALPA implementation date and alerts them to pending additional guidance updates. 9/30/2016
Video: Assessing and Reporting Airport Conditions An abbreviated version of the Airport Condition Reporting and RCAM video that discusses and demonstrates revisions to the process of assessing and reporting runway surface conditions. 9/26/2016
Video: Airport Condition Reporting and the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) (Version 2) Discusses and demonstrates changes to the process of assessing and reporting airport conditions. Narration differs from the 9/8/2016 version. 9/23/2016
Change 1 to AC 150/5200-30D, Airport Field Condition Assessments and Winter Operations Safety Change 1 provides additional guidance on implementing TALPA. Specifically, it updates information on reporting wet runway, slippery when wet reporting procedures, unacceptable aspects of reporting Mu values to aircraft operators, using current runway in use for generating runway surface condition reports, airport operators abilities to use mitigations to improve runway conditions, and using Conditions Not Monitored and Surface Conditions Not Reported NOTAMs. 3/8/2017
CertAlert 17-02, Announcement of Change 1 to AC 150/5200-30D, Airport Field Condition Assessments and Winter Operations Safety (PDF) Announces the availability of Change 1 to AC 150/5200-30D. 3/8/2017
Airport Condition Reporting and the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) Video (Version 1) Discusses and demonstrates revisions to the process of assessing and reporting runway surface conditions. 09/08/2016

CertAlert 16-02: Airport Snow and Ice Control Plan Revision and Snow and Ice Control Plan (SICP) template (PDF)

Provides airport operators with an updated Snow and Ice Control Plan (SICP) template to assist them with revisions to their Airport Certification Manual (ACM). 8/2/2016
CertAlert 16-04: Informational Webinars on Airport Condition Reporting and the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM) (PDF) Announces the dates and times for webinars for airport operators and other stakeholders about the new process for assessing and reporting surface conditions using the assessment tool known as the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM). 8/18/2016
AC 150/5200-30D, Airport Field Condition Assessments and Winter Operations Safety Provides guidance on developing a snow and ice control plan, assessing and reporting airport conditions using the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM), and establishing snow removal and control procedures. 07/29/2016
AC 150/5300-13, Airport Design Contains the FAA standards and recommendations for the geometric layout and engineering design of runways, taxiways, aprons, and other facilities at civil airports. 09/28/2012
Frequently Asked Questions about the Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) Initiative for Airport Operators (PDF) Provides answers to questions about TALPA, RCAM, and the process for reporting runway conditions. 12/22/2016
Order 5190.6, FAA Airport Compliance Manual Provides guidance to FAA personnel on interpreting and administering the continuing commitments airport sponsors make to the U.S. Government when they accept grants of federal funds or federal property for airport purposes. 09/30/2009
Airport Safety Information Video Series - Winter Operations Update Reviews pre-season planning and best practices for winter operations, and takes a look at new approaches, reporting methods, and terminology. 10/28/2014
Revised Runway Condition Assessment Tool for Airport Operators (PDF) Allows airport operators to assess a runway surface when contaminants are present in order to generate and report a Runway Condition Code (RwyCC). 07/29/2016
Reportable Contaminants in Field Condition (FICON) Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) (PDF) Identifies reportable contaminants as well as the reportable depths. 06/07/2016

For Air Traffic

For Airport Operators
Resource Purpose Publication Date
TALPA-related Changes to the AIM (PDF) Identifies changes, effective October 1, 2016, to the AIM. Changes will appear in the AIM when it is next published in April 2017. 9/2016
TALPA-related Changes to the AIP (PDF) Identifies changes, effective October 1, 2016, to the AIP. Changes will appear in the AIP when it is next published in April 2017. 9/2016
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Provides basic flight information and ATC procedures for use in the NAS of the US. Updated periodically
Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) Provides basic flight information and ATC procedures for use internationally, in accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices of ICAO Annex 15, Aeronautical Information Services. Updated periodically

For Manufacturers

For Airport Operators
Resource Purpose Publication Date
AC 25-31, Takeoff Performance Data for Operations on Contaminated Runways Provides guidance that operators can use when developing takeoff performance data for transport category airplanes for ops on contaminated runways. Promotes use of consistent terminology for runway surface conditions. 12/22/2015
AC 25-32, Landing Performance Data for Time-of-Arrival Landing Performance Assessments Provides guidance to be used when developing landing performance data for time-of-arrival landing performance assessments for transport category airplanes. Also promotes the use of consistent terminology for runway surface conditions. 12/22/2015

TALPA-Related Regulations

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Last updated: Tuesday, September 10, 2024