Aviation obstruction

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Tokyo Tower in Japan

An aviation obstacle is an object that, due to its height, represents an obstacle to air traffic. In addition to structures, obstacles can also be vehicles, people, natural growth such as trees etc. or even aircraft, provided they are located at the airport itself or in the vicinity of the airport.

Examples

Examples are overhead lines and high-rise buildings, especially near the airport, as well as telecommunications towers , tall chimneys , cranes and wind turbines . Problematic obstacles are also individual trees, groups of trees and forests as well as shrubs, provided they penetrate the areas of the building protection area.

Obstacle detection

Obstacles are recorded at IFR aerodromes every 4 years. For this purpose, the airfield is overflown at an altitude of around 3,000 m and pictures are taken with a special camera. So you can use stereogrammetry to evaluate the exact height of various obstacles. This overflying is only possible in the greening phase of the trees and when the sky is clear, since only then is the important shadow cast for evaluation.

definition

According to Annex 14 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), the following definition applies (at least for aviation obstacles near the aerodrome):

"All fixed (temporary or permanent) and all movable objects or parts thereof that are located in an area designed for the movement of aircraft on the ground or protrude beyond a specified area designed for the protection of aircraft in flight."

Germany has its own definition of obstacles, stipulated in the respective guidelines of the BMVBS. This is regulated by the German obstacle directive NfL I 328/01 “Clearance of obstacles at airports with instrument flight operations”. For airfields without IFR traffic, the obstacle guideline NfL I 92/13 “Common principles of the federal government and the states for the construction and operation of airfields for aircraft in visual flight operations” (replaces the outdated NfL I 327/01 “Construction and operation of airfields with visual air traffic ").

Reporting requirement

In Germany, structures with a height of more than 100 m above ground, in particularly exposed locations more than 30 m, must be reported to the aviation authority by the building supervisory authority . This in turn must obtain a statement from the German Air Traffic Control (DFS) in accordance with Section 31  LuftVG if the obstacle penetrates the areas of the existing building protection area Section 12 LuftVG or Section 17 LuftVG in conjunction with Section 18 LuftVG. Obstacles higher than 100 m above ground must generally be presented to DFS. The responsible state aviation authority is not bound by this opinion, but it will mostly adhere to the opinion of the DFS and allow the obstacle, possibly with conditions, or reject it. DFS enters the relevant obstacle in the responsible AIP aviation manual. Whether labeling is necessary also depends on the DFS opinion.

Airfield-related obstacles are shown on the AOC obstacle type A chart (aerodrome obstacle chart) in the AIP.

In Austria , Section 91 of the Aviation Act regulates the notification requirement. A special permit is required to erect or expand an obstacle to aviation outside of the safety zone. The responsible aviation authority must be notified of the establishment or expansion of an obstruction to aviation at least two months before the planned establishment. This decides whether the project requires a special permit.

Labelling

Outside the building protection areas (§ 12 and § 17 LuftVG), buildings in Germany with a height of more than 100 m above ground or more than 150 m in densely populated areas and cities must be marked. The requirements are regulated in the general administrative regulation for the marking of aviation obstacles. In individual cases, obstacles from a height of 20 m such as B. overhead lines or cable cars subject to labeling. (For the identification of overhead lines see also cable cap system # Identification of obstacles .)

In Austria, the rule applies that the owner of an aviation obstacle is obliged to mark it at his own expense. This also applies to ongoing maintenance and any removal of markings. In accordance with the Austrian Civil Airfield Ordinance, obstacles must be marked with red and white stripes or checkerboard patterns, unless they are clearly recognizable by their shape and the contrast against the background. Tensioned ropes and wires must be marked with orange warning bodies.

Day marking

Red and white painted overhead line mast at Düsseldorf Airport

Day marking for flat obstacles is done by applying paint in identification colors. In the case of structures that only partially represent an obstacle to aviation to be marked, at least the upper third must be marked. In other countries, a red and white warning sign is common. White flashing or white flashing day lights can be required in addition to day marking , depending on the obstacle situation, if this is considered necessary for the safe conduct of air traffic.

Identification colors
width: 20 width: 20 traffic orange (RAL 2009) in connection with traffic white (RAL 9016)
width: 20 width: 20 width: 20 traffic red (RAL 3020) in connection with gray white (RAL 9002), agate gray (RAL 7038) or light gray (RAL 7035)
width: 20 traffic orange (RAL 2009)
width: 20 traffic red (RAL 3020)

Night marking

LED obstruction light for night marking

Obstacle lights (red light with a light intensity of at least 10 cd in all directions) must be installed at  night . Obstacles which, due to their location or extent, could pose a particular risk to aviation safety must be lit with hazard lights (red flashing light, 20 to 60 times per minute with a light intensity of at least 2000 cd) instead of or in addition to the obstruction lights.

See also

literature

  • Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation: Aerodromes. Volume I - Aerodrome Design and Operations . ISBN 92-9194-174-3

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Annex 14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation: Aerodromes. Volume I - Aerodrome Design and Operations . ISBN 92-9194-174-3
  2. ↑ NfL I 92/13 (PDF) Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. May 2, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  3. ↑ General administrative regulation for the marking of aviation obstacles. Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure , April 20, 2020, accessed on June 2, 2020 .