3-3-4

Braking Action

JO 7110.65BB, Change 3, effective July 9, 2026 · Official text on faa.gov

Furnish quality of braking action, as received from pilots, to all aircraft as follows:

Describe the quality of braking action using the terms “good," “good to medium," “medium," “medium to poor," “poor," or “nil." If the pilot reports braking action in other than theapproved terms, ask him/her to categorize braking action in these terms.
Note

The term “nil” is used to indicate bad or no braking action.
Include type of aircraft from which the report is received.
Example

“Braking action medium, reported by a heavy Boeing Seven Sixty-Seven.”
“Braking action poor, reported by a Boeing Seven Thirty-Seven.”
If the braking action report affects only a portion of a runway, obtain enough information from the pilot to describe the braking action in terms easily understood by other pilots.
Example

“Braking action poor first half of runway, reported by a Boeing Seven Fifty-Seven.”
“Braking action good to medium beyond the intersection of Runway Two Seven, reported by an Airbus Three Twenty-One.”

Note

Descriptive terms, such as the first or the last half of the runway, should normally be used rather than landmark descriptions, such as opposite the fire station, south of a taxiway, etc. Landmarks extraneous to the landing runway are difficult to distinguish during low visibility, at night, or anytime a pilot is busy landing an aircraft.
Issue the runway surface condition and/or the Runway Condition Reading (RCR), if provided, to all USAF and ANG aircraft. Issue the RCR to other aircraft upon pilot request.
Example

“Ice on runway, RCR zero five, patchy.”

Note

USAF offices furnish RCR information at airports serving USAF and ANG aircraft.

Reference

FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-7-12, Airport Conditions.
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 3-3-5, Braking Action Advisories.