A330
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Company Policy; Human Factors; Aircraft
Our aircraft had an MEL which affected tailwind restriction; landing distance; CAT 3 Dual Prohibited; and operating on contaminated runways. (Aircraft restriction on release was only 'no tailwind takeoff'). Dispatch did not agree that the MEL restriction prevented us from operating on a contaminated runway. The NOTAM's for the airport clearly indicated the departure runway had patchy thin wet snow. The TPS indicated a dry runway. The Tower confirmed for us that the runway was dry. The Dispatcher said he would get the NOTAM changed. The NOTAM on the return flight remained the same. MEL 32-42-4A MEL 32-42-05A PLA CAT 3 DUAL Prohibited. Misunderstanding of the MEL between Dispatcher and myself. Both dispatchers put only one of aircraft restrictions on release; and did not include increased landing distance; no flex takeoff; and no operation on contaminated runway. NOTAM's were not updated the entire day. Disagreement between Dispatcher and me that a runway described as patchy wet snow meant it was contaminated; whereas he believed because it said patchy thin wet snow meant it was less than 1/8 and therefore not contaminated. I looked at FOM and the definition of contaminated means more than 1/8 and then goes on to describe contaminated conditions as among others- wet snow. Provide more training to pilots and dispatchers so we may agree on how to read the restrictions on aircraft imposed by MEL's; as well as how to determine a contaminated runway. Insist on updated NOTAM's. Do not carry these MEL's in the middle of winter where contaminated runways are likely to be an issue. The FO I was flying with had the same MEL weeks ago on the same airplane; which between that time had been taken off and put right back on MEL to avoid the time limits.
A330 Captain reports disagreeing with the Dispatcher over what constitutes a contaminated runway for MEL compliance. It is decided that the Dispatcher's view that patchy thin wet snow meant it was less than 1/8 and therefore not contaminated; is correct.