Originally Posted by
SDF_Traveler
They were landing on 4R with reports of good breaking action. As the ice pellets started, pilots started reporting icing from 1,000 ft down to runway. When the tower would give a clearance, "AA 40 heavy, clear to land runway 4R. Breaking action reported good; beware of icing from 1,000 ft. Caution wake turbulance, following 777 heavy on 3 mile final"
Eventually pilots started to report icing from 7,000 ft downward, which was then relayed in ATC clearances, and it seems the weather went downhill from there.
We have four levels of braking action: Good, Fair, Poor, and Nil. We can't operate with Nil.
Pilots call the tower with braking action reports and they can be very subjective. A 757 might feel they had 'Fair' landing conditions (757 has a great braking system) while the ERJ right behind them might feel they got a ride on the ice rink and report 'poor' or 'nil'. Once someone mutters the word 'Nil', the aircraft on approach will go-around or be required to divert, depending on their fuel state and how long it takes the airport to get rid of a 'nil' report.