Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 168
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Human Factors; Weather
PVD Field Condition (FICON) was 5/5/5 with thin snow; weather on ATIS was 1/2 mile SN. Braking report from previous 757 was good. Upon braking out of the clouds we saw an all-white runway with areas that looked as if it had previously been plowed in the center but which was now covered with snow. Landing occurred with Auto Brakes 3; but during rollout I overrode the brakes by gently pressing harder. However no matter how hard I pressed on the brakes the aircraft only gradually slowed down. Tower asked me if I could expedite to the end as only taxiway open to depart the runway was at the departure end. I said NO as the runway felt pretty slick to me. I reported medium braking both to the Tower and via ACARS to Dispatch. A follow on light corporate commuter aircraft reported good braking.I was a member of the Takeoff And Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) Advisory group and am intimately familiar with braking action physics as well as the Runway Condition Assessment Matrix (RCAM). There was absolutely no way the braking was good or the snow was 1/8th inches in depth or less.I would like to please ask if the data can be collected from the aircraft and if our Company could ask the OEM to analyze the aircraft braking coefficient. If possible it would also be of value to ascertain the delivered brake pressure versus the commanded pressure for this event as there can sometimes be a large disparity in friction limited landings. I think that Pilots do not really know how to give braking action reports and I don't think the airport wanted to take my report of medium braking seriously. I also think Pilots need to know how to use the RCAM to evaluate probable runway conditions that may differ from the FICON. Additionally; there is no such description as 'thin' in the RCAM. None of the FAA ACs that include the RCAM have thin snow as part of depth description. I would please ask if these areas could be addressed.
Air Carrier Captain reported the field conditions and PIREP at PVD did not accurately portray the braking action he encountered.