I've been asked what 'RWY DRAP means; I haven't the faintest idea! And
I can't find it in the various guides to the American-style METAR's.
Obviously something to do with runway 'wetness' as it comes after
thunderstorms and the like.
MPTO 252200Z 00000KT 8000 -TSRA FEW014CB SCT016 BKN080 26/25 Q1008 RWY
WET
MPTO 252200Z 00000KT 9999 SCT018 BKN090 26/24 Q1008 RETSRA RWY DRAP
MPTO 252130Z 00000KT 3000 TSRA FEW012CB SCT014 BKN080 26/24 Q1008 RWY
WET
MPTO 252115Z 01004KT 6000 TSRA FEW012CB SCT014 BKN080 27/25 Q1008 RWY
WET
MPTO 252100Z 15006KT 5000NE -TSRA FEW014CB SCT016 BKN090 30/26 Q1007 RWY
DRAP (This is Tocumen, Panama)Martin.
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Martin Rowley wrote in message ...
: I've been asked what 'RWY DRAP means; I haven't the faintest idea! And
:I can't find it in the various guides to the American-style METAR's.
:Obviously something to do with runway 'wetness' as it comes after
:thunderstorms and the like.

Just a wild guess - "drying after precipitation" ?

Colin Youngs
Brussels

"Colin Youngs" wrote in message
...
Martin Rowley wrote in message ...
: I've been asked what 'RWY DRAP means; I haven't the faintest idea!
And
:I can't find it in the various guides to the American-style METAR's.
:Obviously something to do with runway 'wetness' as it comes after
:thunderstorms and the like.

Just a wild guess - "drying after precipitation" ?

.... yes, that's what I wondered; it would fit the bill .... I can't
understand though why it's not listed anywhere - it is a common
abbreviation from that (ICAO) region (M).

Martin.

Martin

How about a typo for BRAP (= BRaking Action Poor) a standard US
abbreviation?

--
Paul (Lurker and FAA Dispatcher)

Martin Rowley wrote:
I've been asked what 'RWY DRAP means; I haven't the faintest idea! And
I can't find it in the various guides to the American-style METAR's.
Obviously something to do with runway 'wetness' as it comes after
thunderstorms and the like.
MPTO 252200Z 00000KT 8000 -TSRA FEW014CB SCT016 BKN080 26/25 Q1008 RWY
WET
MPTO 252200Z 00000KT 9999 SCT018 BKN090 26/24 Q1008 RETSRA RWY DRAP
MPTO 252130Z 00000KT 3000 TSRA FEW012CB SCT014 BKN080 26/24 Q1008 RWY
WET
MPTO 252115Z 01004KT 6000 TSRA FEW012CB SCT014 BKN080 27/25 Q1008 RWY
WET
MPTO 252100Z 15006KT 5000NE -TSRA FEW014CB SCT016 BKN090 30/26 Q1007
RWY DRAP (This is Tocumen, Panama)Martin.

If I remember, I'll try and look it up at work tomorrow, if Phil Layton
doesn't beat me to it!

Jim.



"Martin Rowley" wrote in message
...

"Colin Youngs" wrote in message
...
Martin Rowley wrote in message ...
: I've been asked what 'RWY DRAP means; I haven't the faintest idea! And
:I can't find it in the various guides to the American-style METAR's.
:Obviously something to do with runway 'wetness' as it comes after
:thunderstorms and the like.

Just a wild guess - "drying after precipitation" ?

... yes, that's what I wondered; it would fit the bill .... I can't
understand though why it's not listed anywhere - it is a common
abbreviation from that (ICAO) region (M).

Martin.

Whatever it stands for, I wouldn't fancy being there. 26 over 25 with
no wind, pretty unbearable without air conditioning. I bet they were
grateful for the 6 knot southeasterly later, although with 30 over 26
it would have been like someone wafting a towel in a sauna.

"Jim Smith" wrote in message
...
If I remember, I'll try and look it up at work tomorrow, if Phil
Layton doesn't beat me to it!

Jim.

.... thanks for that: have done quite an extensive search, but in all the
'official' manuals, it doesn't appear - it must be something to do with
damp runways, but it would be useful to know what the criteria are for
adding it - it's more of an 'air traffic' thing than a 'met' phenomenon,
even though it is the rain wot causes it ;-)

Martin.


--
FAQ & Glossary for uk.sci.weather at:-
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/uswfaqfr.htm
[ with Search facility ]
and
http://booty.org.uk/booty.weather/metindex.htm

"PalmTree1" paul.palmer@n'aime pas le pub.libertysurf.fr wrote in
message ...
Martin

How about a typo for BRAP (= BRaking Action Poor) a standard US
abbreviation?


.... I don't think so (can't be sure of course); if it *is* a typo, then
there have been many such over the past few days from several airfields
in the country (Panama). The following found by doing a random search
....

MPMG 032100Z 00000KT 9000 TSDZ SCT016CB OVC300 27/25 Q1012 CB SE

RWY DRAP=

MPSA 032100Z 34014KT 5000 VCTSRA FEW010CB SCT015 BKN100 28/24

Q1011 CB/TS FQTTSIC NE=

MPTO 032100Z 00000KT 9999 SCT016CB BKN090 27/25 Q1011 RETSRA CB

DSNT SE RWY DRAP=


Martin.

"Martin Rowley" m wrote
in message ...

"PalmTree1" paul.palmer@n'aime pas le pub.libertysurf.fr wrote in
message ...
Martin

How about a typo for BRAP (= BRaking Action Poor) a standard US
abbreviation?

.... well, it looks as if we were all right (in the sense that it was
something to do with dampness due to precipitation), but we were looking
for something rather complicated - when the answer was rather more
straightforward. Paul was closest, thought it wasn't a typo apparently.

I relayed the various suggestions back to my contact in Guatemala and
initially he was quite pleased with the ideas - but decided to contact
the Panamanians themselves to find out .....

The answer is that it should have been 'RWY DAMP' .. a commonly used
additional group in the 'US-style' METAR's in the New World. Apparently,
whoever it was in Panama who sets out the regulations was told that the
English word for damp was 'drap', hence the use of DRAP. He doesn't
know how long they've been using the word - I rather like the acronym
idea though ;-)

Martin.