Distributed by: AFS-200 OPR: AJS-0
InFO
Information for Operators
U.S. Department InFO 11015
of Transportation DATE: 9/1/11
Federal Aviation
Administration Flight Standards Service
Washington, DC
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info
An InFO contains valuable information for operators that should help them meet certain administrative, regulatory, or
operational requirements with relatively low urgency or impact on safety.
Subject: Runway Construction and Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) Messages
Purpose: This InFO serves to inform aircraft operators and pilots of ATIS messages and takeoff/landing
clearances they may receive at airports where runway construction is underway or just completed.
Background: A number of runways throughout the nation are currently under construction or have just
completed construction. In either case, it is possible that the runway has been shortened. To reduce risks
associated with conducting operations during construction, it is imperative that pilots and operators are
aware of the messages they may hear/see on the ATIS and/or receive as part of their air traffic clearance.
Discussion: For runways that are undergoing construction or have recently completed construction.
Operators and pilots can expect to hear the following messages via the ATIS recording. In situations
where the runway has been shortened, operators will hear “WARNING” and “SHORTENED.” This
should trigger a review of the available runway length (TORA) during construction period. When the
construction results in a permanently shortened runway, the ATIS message will continue for 30-days
following completion of construction or the publication of a new airfield diagram, whichever date is
longer. In addition, “SHORTENED” will be used as part of the takeoff (or line up and wait) and landing
clearance if cleared to use a runway that has been shortened. Finally, controllers will not use “full length”
when clearing aircraft to takeoff (or line up and wait) on a shortened runway. These changes should
prevent you from assuming that the runway in-use is the published (maximum) length. In addition to
ATIS messages and controller actions, some airports may add extra signage to communicate that the
runway(s) is shortened. When construction closes an entire runway(s) you will not see any change from
the present, and closure information will be included in ATIS messages and NOTAMs.
The FAA is also running a trial program to provide a graphic depiction of closures at some airports. This
graphic is referred to as a Construction Notice and is linked to digital NOTAMs.
Recommended Action: Directors of safety, directors of operations, chief pilots, fractional ownership
program managers, training managers, and operators of aircraft should familiarize themselves with the
information found in this InFO, recheck aircraft performance on shortened runways and be prepared to
ask for a different clearance or additional information if unable to use the assigned runway.
Contact: Questions or comments regarding this InFO should be directed to the Air Transportation
Division, AFS-200, at (202) 267-8166, or the Air Traffic Organization Safety office, at (202) 493-5000.
