Hi all,

I sat my performance exam today (I passed!), and thought I would share this question as it was something that I don't think I've seen before.

What are the physical charteristics of the runway 06/24 at Sunrise Dam, WA (YSRD)?

The multiple choice answers listed four options based on combinations of; concrete or asphalt, rigid or flexible, and subgrade strength.

I took my jepps in, so I thought, "I'll just look in the airport directory, if that don't have the answer, I don't know where to look" I had a look, but no obvious answer, so I ended up taking an educated guess (I guessed incorrectly)

Anyway, after getting home, I thought I would investigate more, so I looked up Sunrise Dam in the ERSA, and found:

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
06/24 059 64a PCN 27 /F /A /940 (136PSI) /U WID 30 RWS 150

Finding the key in the intro pages of the ERSA I was able to decipher the secret code to reveal
06/24 is the runway designation
059 is the runway bearing
64[b]a[/b] the 64 part correlates to the runway length, and that little [b]'a' next to 64 means asphalt or bitumen![/b]
PCN 27 is the Pavement classification number
[b]/F means flexible pavement
/A means high strength subgrade strength[/b]

I'll stop the decipher there, cause it is now clear that the correct answer was that one that stated; [b]asphalt, flexible and high strength[/b]

So the ERSA had the answer, but I didn't have an ERSA did I??

For those poor souls like me that are taking Jepps in, You'll find a similar (but less obvious) secret code in the airport directory. For Sunrise Dam it is
RWY 06/24 PCN 27/F/A/940...
You can then use the legend on page AU-7 to decode. Though it doesn't look like it states if it is asphalt or concrete. If anyone can find that, let me know

Michael