PHAK · Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance
FAA · Retrieved 2026-09-05
Educational reference; original Owl summariesPERFORMANCE
Hydroplaning
FLIGHT SCIENCE / CONCEPT REFERENCE
SCIENCEConditions & principles
A tire can lose effective runway contact when water supports part of the load.
REFERENCE COVERAGE3 / 3 editorial sections
PROVENANCE1 linked source
LAST RETRIEVED2026-09-05
Editorial section coverage describes the article structure, not scientific validation or completeness.
View missing fields and source dates
Source editions
PHAK · Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance ↗Edition / snapshot: FAA-H-8083-25C, 2023Retrieved: 2026-09-05
Retrieval dates record when Owl obtained the data; they are not publication dates or proof that a specification is current. Where the edition contains only a snapshot date, the original publication date is not recorded.
01
Mechanism
Water pressure builds beneath a rolling tire faster than it can escape. Tire tread, pressure, water depth and pavement affect the interaction.
02
Aircraft response
Braking and directional control can be reduced. Tire rotation and surface friction behavior may change through different forms of hydroplaning.
03
Context & interpretation
A single tire-pressure formula cannot capture every runway and tire condition. Aircraft landing data and runway condition reporting remain separate from this physical explanation.
Sources & context
Educational explanation of physical mechanisms. Aircraft-specific procedures, limitations and current weather information are separate references.