NCC.POL.125 Take-off – aeroplanes

TAKE-OFF MASS The following should be considered for determining the maximum take-off mass:

(a)the pressure altitude at the aerodrome;

(b)the ambient temperature at the aerodrome;

(c)the runway surface condition and the type of runway surface;

(d)the runway slope in the direction of take-off;

(e)not more than 50 % of the reported head-wind component or not less than 150 % of the reported tailwind component; and

(f)the loss, if any, of runway length due to alignment of the aeroplane prior to take-off.

CONTAMINATED RUNWAY PERFORMANCE DATA Wet and contaminated runway performance data, if made available by the manufacturer, should be taken into account. If such data is not made available, the operator should account for wet and contaminated runway conditions by using the best information available.

ADEQUATE MARGIN The adequate margin should be defined in the operations manual.

RUNWAY SURFACE CONDITION Operation on runways contaminated with water, slush, snow or ice implies uncertainties with regard to runway friction and contaminant drag and therefore to the achievable performance and control of the aeroplane during take-off or landing, since the actual conditions may not completely match the assumptions on which the performance information is based. In the case of a contaminated runway, the first option for the pilot-in-command is to wait until the runway is cleared. If this is impracticable, he or she may consider a take-off or landing, provided that he or she has applied the applicable performance adjustments, and any further safety measures he or she considers justified under the prevailing conditions. The excess runway length available including the criticality of the overrun area should also be considered. The determination of take-off performance data for wet and contaminated runways should be based on the reported runway surface condition in terms of contaminant and depth.

ADEQUATE MARGIN ‘An adequate margin’ is illustrated by the appropriate examples included in Attachment C to ICAO Annex 6, Part I.