CE-363

Lecture 4: Airport Obstructions

Dr. Ankit Gupta, Assistant Professor

Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Hamirpur
Lecture Outline

 Airport Obstructions
 Imaginary surfaces
 Height of objects in approach zone
 Turning zone
 Flight Rules
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Divided into following categories

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Objects with Actual Heights
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 These are the established surfaces in relation
to the airport and to each runway above which
no obstruction should project
 Size of imaginary surface depends upon the
category of each runway and type of approach
planned for that runway
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Approach surface
 Conical surface
 Horizontal surface
 Take-off climb surface
 Transitional surface
Imaginary Surfaces
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Approach surface
 Provided at the end of landing side of runway
 Trapezoidal in shape
 Diverging away with upgrade
 Longitudinally centered on the extended centre-line
of runway
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Approach surface

Length of Horizontal Longitudinal upgrade

Projection of surface (in m) (in %)
ILS Non-ILS` ILS Non-ILS`
A 15000 3000 2 2.5
B 15000 3000 2 2.5
C 15000 3000 2 3.3
D --- 2200 -- 4
E --- 1600 -- 5
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Approach surface

Width near the end Divergence of sides

of runway (in m) (in %)
ILS Non-ILS` ILS Non-ILS`
A 300 150 15 10
B 300 150 15 10
C 300 150 15 10
D --- 80 -- 10
E --- 60 -- 10
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Take off Climb Surface
 Similar to approach surface
 Provided at the take off end of runway
 Trapezoidal in shape
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Take off Climb Surface

A B C D E
Width near the end
of runway in m 180 180 180 80 60

Divergence of sides 12.5% 12.5% 12.5% 10% 10%

Length of horizontal projection

in m 15000 15000 15000 2500 1600

Longitudinal up-grade 2% 2% 2% 4% 5%
Imaginary Surfaces
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Horizontal surface
 Extends from upper edge of transition surface and
ends at lower or inner circular edge of conical
surface
 The height of outer horizontal surface extends from
150m (above the ARP elevation) to 9900 m (for
airports with length of runway between 900 m and
1500 m) or to 15000m (for airports having runway
length more than 1500 m) above elevation of
Airport Reference point
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Horizontal surface
 The shape of HIS may not be circular
 The radius or outer limits are measured from the
airport reference point
 Not provided for airports having runway length less
than 900 m
 Structures having height above OHS are not
permitted
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Transition surface
 Trapezoidal in shape
 Extends along the landing strip
 Slopes upwards and outwards to the IHS
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
 Conical surface
 Extends upwards and outwards from OHS to a
point which is at some height above the horizontal
surface
 Circular in shape
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
Runway Side slope % of Height of outer or Radius of inner
Code transitional conical upper circular edge circular edge
surface surface of conical surface conical surface
above HS in m with ARP in m
A 14.3 5.0 100 4000
B 14.3 5.0 100 4000
C 14.3 5.0 75 4000
D 20.0 5.0 55 2500
E 20.0 5.0 35 2000
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Imaginary Surfaces
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Objects with Actual Heights

 Any object which exceeds certain limiting height
above the ground is considered to be an
obstruction to the air navigation

 Any object within 4.5 km distance from the runway

end is considered as an obstruction if its actual
height is more than 30 m above the ground or
above the level of approach end of runway
whichever is higher
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Objects with Actual Heights

 Any object which is located beyond a distance of 4.5
km from the runway end is considered as an
obstruction if its height above 30 m increases by more
than 7.5 m for each additional 1.5 km distance from
the runway end or if it exceeds 75 m within 15 km
distance from the runway end.
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Objects with Actual Heights

 Any object which projects above the minimum
approach flight altitude or whose height exceeds 150
m above the ground is also to be considered as an
obstruction.
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Objects with Actual Heights

AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Objects with Actual Heights

AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Runway Clear Zone

 Provided after runway end, starting at 60 m from the
end, within approach area
 Length determined by approach surface attaining a
height of 30 m.
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Runway Clear Zone

Dimensions of Runway Clear Zone:

Type of runway W1(m) W2(m) L (m)
Instrumental runway 300 525 750
Non-instrumental runway
 visibility as low as 1.25 km 300 435 510
 visibility greater than 1.25 km 150 303 510
Approach for utility 150 240 300
Visual approach for larger 150 210 300
than utility
Visual approach for utility 75 135 300
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Clear zone
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Turning zone
 Used in case of emergencies for turning of
aircraft.
 Any object located within a distance of 4.5 km from
the ARP is considered as an obstruction if its height
exceeds 51 m above the ground or the established
airport elevation whichever is more.
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Turning zone
 Used in case of emergencies for turning of
aircraft.
 Any object which is located beyond a distance of
4.5 km from the ARP is considered as an
obstruction if its height exceeds 51 m plus 30 m for
each additional 1.5 km distance from ARP or if it
exceeds 150 m within a distance of 15 km from the
ARP.
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Objects with Actual Heights: Turning zone

AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Zoning Laws
 Height zoning
 Land-use zoning
 Governs type of development. These are classified
as
 Closely related, like terminal building, parking, etc.
 Non-aviation use, like commercial, industrial,
recreational, etc.
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS

 Zoning Laws
 Following factors should be considered with
respect to zoning laws,
 Legal interest and rights
 Nature of ordinance
 Not oppressive, unreasonable and arbitrary
 Zoning map
 Showing property line, land-use pattern, permissible
heights, limits of zoning laws, etc.
Fly Rules

 These brings in a certain degree of orderliness

in the aircraft movements in airspaces from the
time of take-off to landing, maintaining safety by
applying separation standards between aircrafts
within the airspace.
Fly Rules

 Two basic flight rules are:

 Visual Flight Rule (VFR)
 Instrumental Flight Rule (IFR)

 The words VFR and IFR each have two

definitions
 Flight rules, and
 Weather conditions
Fly Rules

 Flight Rules:
 VFR
 VFR flight rules are established by the Federal
Aviation Administration, the FAA. Generally
speaking, with the exception of certain controlled
airspace restrictions, one can do, within reason,
what one wants. To fly VFR, a flight plan, with a few
exceptions, is not required.
Fly Rules

 Flight Rules:
 IFR
 IFR flight rules are also established by the FAA.
They can be quite complex, and cover most every
aspect of the operation. To fly IFR, a flight plan is
required.
Fly Rules

 WEATHER CONDITIONS
 VFR
 The FAR's (Federal Aviation Regulations) establish what
the prevailing flight visibility must be, and how far the
airplane must remain away from clouds. The visibility
and cloud minimums vary depending on the airspace
that one is in. Generally speaking, if the ceiling (broken
or overcast cloud bases) are more than 1,000 feet
above the ground, and the visibility is three miles or
more, the weather is VFR.
Fly Rules

 WEATHER CONDITIONS
 IFR
 Generally speaking, if the ceiling (broken or overcast
cloud bases) are less than 1,000 feet above the ground,
and/or the visibility is less than three miles, the weather
is IFR.
Fly Rules

 VFR – Complete definition

 Visual flight rules (VFR) are a set of aviation
regulations under which a pilot may operate an aircraft
in weather conditions sufficient to allow the pilot, by
visual reference to the environment outside the
cockpit, to control the aircraft's attitude, navigate, and
maintain safe separation from obstacles such as
terrain, buildings, and other aircraft.
Fly Rules

 VFR
 The essential collision safety principle guiding the
VFR pilot is "see and avoid".

 In strictly controlled airspace, air traffic control will

separate VFR aircraft from all other aircraft The
minimum meteorological requirements for VFR are
termed visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
Fly Rules

 VFR
 Controlled VFR flight is used in locations where
aviation authorities have determined that VFR flight
should be allowed, but that ATC separation minima
and guidance are necessary

 The CVFR concept is used in Canada and Europe, but

not in the U.S., where the Private Pilot certificate itself
authorizes the pilot to accept clearances under VFR
Fly Rules

 IFR – Complete Definition

 Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) is a set of regulations
and procedures for flying aircraft without the
assumption that pilots will be able to see and avoid
obstacles, terrain, and other air traffic
 Since navigation and control of the aircraft under IFR
is done by instruments, flying through clouds is
allowed
 Commercial traffic (a flight carrying paying passengers
or cargo) operates under IFR almost exclusively
Fly Rules

 IFR – Separation
 The distance that is achieved when avoiding obstacles
or other aircraft is termed separation.

 In controlled airspace, air traffic control (ATC)

separates IFR aircraft from obstacles and other IFR
aircraft by applying separations based on time,
distance, and altitude differences between aircraft, by
relying either on radar or reports of aircraft positions
traditionally sent as voice radio transmissions, but
increasingly as electronic data exchanges
Fly Rules

 IFR – Weather
 One advantage of IFR is the ability to fly an aircraft in
instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), weather
conditions that do not meet the minimum visibility
requirements for VFR.

 In such conditions the pilot will control the altitude of

the aircraft by watching the flight instruments, and will
rely entirely on ATC for separation.
Fly Rules

 IFR – Weather
 During flight under IFR, there are no visibility
requirements, and as such flying through clouds is
permitted.

 There are still minimum conditions that must be

present in order for the aircraft to take off or land
Fly Rules

 IFR – Navigation
 Under IFR, the primary means of navigation is via
radio beacons on the ground such as VOR and NDB,
although GPS is rapidly taking over.
 In areas of radar coverage, navigation may be done
by receiving radar vectors (magnetic headings
assigned by ATC).
 This is one of the primary ways for ATC to provide
separation between aircraft, and to sequence them for
landing
Fly Rules

 IFR – Procedures
 There are three stages to an IFR flight: departure, en
route, and approach
 Departures are described by simple departure
procedures (DP), normally providing an initial heading
and altitude, or (for busier airports) by standard
instrument departures (SID) providing more detailed
instructions, often accompanied by diagrams or charts.
 En route flight is described by IFR charts showing
navigation aids, fixes, and standard routes called
airways with minimum safe altitudes for each segment
Fly Rules

 IFR – Procedures
 There are three stages to an IFR flight: departure, en
route, and approach
 Approaches are described by terminal procedures (often
called approach plates), describing a series of steps and
segments to make the transition from en route flight to a
position where the aircraft can complete a landing
visually (often from a low altitude and close to the
airport)
Fly Rules

 VFR v/s IFR

Fly Rules

 VFR
v/s IFR
Fly Rules: Sectional Charts

 VFR
v/s IFR