Definition
A runway surface condition report indicating that braking effectiveness is significantly reduced. When BA POOR is reported, the wheel brakes produce noticeably less deceleration than on a dry runway, and directional control during the rollout is harder to maintain. The term is one of the standardized braking action categories (good, good to medium, medium, medium to poor, poor, nil) used in pilot reports and runway condition reports.
Plain English
The runway is slippery enough that the brakes will work badly. Stopping will take much longer than usual and the airplane may want to slide.
Context Anchor
Seen in NOTAMs and runway condition information before taxi, takeoff, or landing, especially when snow, ice, slush, or standing water may be on the surface.
Why Pilots Care
It directly affects landing or takeoff decisions because stopping distance increases and control on the runway may be compromised.
Grounding Statement
Picture touching down and pressing the brakes, but the airplane does not slow normally and wants to slide instead of track straight.
Intuition Check
Poor does not just mean “not ideal” here. In this context, it is a specific braking-action report meaning stopping ability and directional control are significantly reduced.
Example Sentence 1
The ATIS reported BA POOR on Runway 27 due to compacted snow, so the crew calculated a longer landing distance before continuing the approach.
Example Sentence 2
With BA POOR from packed snow, we chose a longer runway at the alternate airport.