Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Procedure; Human Factors
Lack of accurate runway surface condition report by ATC resulted in; reduction of contingency fuel by dispatch in order to accommodate load planning. ATC reporting of a wet runway when in fact the runway was dry by FAA definition; resulted in reduction of load carrying capacity to include removal of fuel; passengers; and cargo. Local ATC runway condition reporting is not accurate. Tower distance from the runway makes it impossible for controllers to give an accurate report. Or; airport OPS is not giving the tower; timely or accurate reporting information. Relaying runway conditions in official reports such as in ATIS broadcast; alters Company dispatch load and performance planning for reported runway surface conditions. When official reporting is not accurate; the Company cannot operate efficiently which results in loss of revenue; inconvenience to the traveling public; and a reduction of safety in the form of reduced contingency fuel with marginal weather conditions and gusty winds.The ATIS was report a wet runway at XA45Z; XB45Z; and again at XC45Z; for which the latter two reports I personally observed to be inaccurate; based on FAA definition. ATC facilities are wholly owned and operated by the FAA which administrates regulations that impact flight planning; and which directly impacts flight load planning. The reporting of runway conditions cannot be based on a 'guess or assumption'. They must be reported accurately both for better and for worse by individuals trained to observe and report actual conditions based on standard definitions. Lack of accurate reporting causes a number of problems in that it can unnecessarily restrict operations into short runways such as JAC. However; such inaccuracies could also cause a lack of restriction to the opposite if for example; the runway was icy but being reported as dry. The lack of integrity of the reporting must be corrected; primarily for safety; but also for reduction of loss of revenue and loss of essential air service for the traveling public.
CRJ700 Captain laments inaccurate runway surface condition report by JAC Tower. Tower reports a wet runway when in fact dry; resulting in removal of passengers and cargo.