hydroplaning

hydroplaning

A condition that can exist when a high-speed aircraft lands on a water-covered runway. Water forms a fine film between tires and the runway surface, thus rendering braking relatively ineffective. It can cause aircraft to skid. An effective antiskid system can prevent hydroplaning. Runway grooving is the most effective method of preventing hydroplaning. The rule of thumb for determining the minimum hydroplaning speed in knots is to multiply the square root of the tire pressure in psi by 8.6. The degree of hydroplaning depends on the amount of tire surface that is under water. See aquaplaning.