Definition
A set of numerical values from 6 (best) down to 0 (worst) that report the braking quality of each third of a runway when the surface is contaminated by water, snow, slush, ice, or other material. The codes are assigned by airport operators using a standardized matrix that considers the type and depth of contamination, and they are passed to pilots through a Field Condition (FICON) NOTAM.
Plain English
Numbers from 0 to 6 that tell pilots how slippery a runway is and how well the airplane can be expected to slow down on it. 6 means the runway is dry and grippy. 0 means the runway is so slick that braking action is essentially nil.
Context Anchor
Pilots see Runway Condition Codes in airport runway condition reports before takeoff or landing, especially during rain, snow, ice, slush, or other surface problems.
Why Pilots Care
The code determines the landing distance required and whether the runway is safe to use.
Analogy
They work like a simple road condition rating for a runway: a high number means good grip, and a low number means the surface may be slippery and stopping will take more room.
Intuition Check
Do not read these as runway quality scores or airport approval codes. They are specifically about expected aircraft braking on the runway surface.
Example Sentence 1
The FICON NOTAM reported runway condition codes of 5/4/3, so the crew planned for reduced braking on the rollout, especially on the last third of the runway.
Example Sentence 2
With a runway condition code of 2 the crew added extra margin to their landing distance calculation.