How should performance charts be adjusted when the runway is sloped or contaminated?

• A. Ignore slope effects and use standard charts.
• B. Only adjust takeoff distances, not landing.
• C. Apply slope or contamination corrections or use charts that include slope/contamination adjustments.
• D. Slope corrections are only needed for takeoff, not landing.

Answer: (C)

When the runway isn’t level and clean, performance numbers no longer match the standard charts. You must apply slope or contamination corrections or use charts that already include those effects. The reason is that gravity along the slope and reduced friction on a contaminated surface change how far the aircraft must travel to take off or to stop after landing. On a downhill slope, takeoff ground run tends to be shorter because gravity helps accelerate the aircraft; on an uphill slope, it tends to be longer. Contaminated surfaces reduce traction, increasing both takeoff distance and landing distance. Likewise, a downhill runway makes landing distance longer because gravity aids forward motion during rollout, while an uphill slope can shorten it. In practice, you either use charts that incorporate slope and contamination or you apply the published correction factors to the standard charts for both takeoff and landing. That’s why this option is the correct approach.