New Terminology On Automated Broadcasts Will Alert Pilots To Shortened Runways

The FAA is advising pilots of some changes in terminology used in ATIS reports and other clearances to address confusion about runway lengths at airports under where work is being done.

According the the agency, recent safety events revealed several common misunderstandings when air traffic clearances were given to pilots operating on runways shortened due to construction. Despite available NOTAMs covering the situation, many pilots using shortened runways have landed in the closed portion of the runway or have been completely surprised to find much less runway available than they had anticipated during the takeoff or landing phases of flight.

The FAA has made the following changes:

• ATIS - When a runway length has been temporarily or permanently shortened, the word “WARNING” will preface the runway number, and the word “shortened” will be included in the text of the message. The ATIS will include the available runway length, as stated in the NOTAM, and must be broadcast for the duration of the construction project. Example: “Warning, Runway One-Zero has been shortened, niner-thousand eight hundred and fifty feet available, consult NOTAMs.”
• Departure Information - ATC will not use the term “full length” when the runway length available for departures has been temporarily shortened. The use of the term “full length” could be interpreted by the pilot(s) as the available runway length prior to the runway being shortened. Whenever a runway length has been temporarily or permanently shortened, the word “shortened” will be used immediately following the runway number as part of the lineup and wait clearance. Example: “(Call sign), Runway Two-eight shortened, line up and wait” or "(Call sign), Runway Two-eight shortened, cleared for takeoff.”
• Landing Information - The addition of “shortened” must be included in the landing clearance for the duration of the construction project when the runway is temporarily shortened. Note that the use of the term “shortened” in this case has nothing to do with short approaches or short field landings and everything to do with jogging your memory (NOTAMs and ATIS were your first awareness) about the condition of the runway in use. Example: “(Call sign), Runway Two-eight shortened, continue” or “(Call sign), Runway Two-eight shortened, cleared to land.

ATC phraseology will include “warning” and “shortened” for operations on permanently shortened runways for at least 30 days or until the Airport/Facility Directory has been updated, whichever is longer.

FAA officials say that the bottom line is, whenever you hear ATC use the term “shortened”, this is your cue that the runway you are about to use has been shortened and has a relocated threshold on at least one end.  If that surprises you in any way, get all the information you need prior to using the runway! 

FMI: www.faa.gov