Design Aircraft Designation and Modification of Standards

1. Design Aircraft Designation and Modification of Standards Consider Current & Future Aviation Needs Dev Meet Stds YES Propose Development ALOS NO Select DAC Select Minima Safety Concern? NO Propose MOS APT Meet DAC STDs YES ALOS for DAC YES OK with FS? YES Approve MOS NO Develop APT to meet DAC STDS NO Implement MOS DAC currently at APT? YES Flight Standards Action(s) Notify Users Of Deficiencies ALOS

2. Abbreviations • DAC – Design Aircraft • DCAT – Runway Design Category • FS – Flight Standards • MOS – Modification of Standards • STDs – Airport Design Standards • ALOS – Acceptable Level of Safety • APT – Airport • RWY – Runway

3. Consider Current & Future Aviation Needs • Planners examine current and forecast aviation needs • Apply the 500 annual operations test as appropriate (this is a planning guideline, not an engineering standard) • Do not consider current airport design constraints– we need to identify the actual aviation needs in terms of a design aircraft

4. Select Design Aircraft • The design aircraft that sets the criteria for future airport development • Included in approved ALP • Multiple design aircraft can be designated for current, near term, and long term plans • Can be used to establish AIP obligations for future airport development proposals

5. Evaluate Design Aircraft Standards • Does the airport meet the Design Aircraft standards? • The Design Aircraft establishes AIP eligibility for airport development. • The Airport is expected to develop the airport to meet Airport Designs that are required by the Design Aircraft • If the Airport meets all Design Aircraft standards, then the airport provides an acceptable level of safety for the Design Aircraft • If the Airport does not meet Design Aircraft standards: • The airport should be developed accordingly • If the Design Aircraft is actually operating at the airport, then users should be notified of the deficiencies

6. Aircraft Exceeding Design Aircraft Criteria • The purpose of airport design standards are primarily to ensure safety. • Therefore, an evaluation of safety based on the actual aircraft operating at the airport is appropriate, whether it is a Design Aircraft or not. • A safety concern may exist whenever the aircraft exceeds the Design Category for the existing runway and/or airport. • The number or frequency of operations could be an important consideration for determining safety for both above and below the 500 annual operations criteria

7. Modification of Standards • FAA Airports regulates AIP-funded development, not aircraft operations. • Therefore an MOS is only appropriate in connection with proposed development, and is not appropriate in connection with changes associated only with airport operations. • Do any standards deficiencies have a safety implication? • If so, then can a MOS maintain an acceptable level of safety? • If so, then FAA can issue the modification and satisfy its primary safety responsibility. • If not, then a situation exists that could create a potential hazard for aircraft operating at the airport. FAA cannot issue an MOS that does not maintain an acceptable level of safety

8. Safety-of-Flight Modifications • For safety-of-flight standards (OFZ, TERPS, etc), Flight Standards makes the final decision on the acceptable level of safety. • ARP can approve modifications of safety-related standards when they are applied to a group (ARC) of aircraft, rather than an individual aircraft. For example • An airport with a B-III design aircraft proposes a parallel taxiway that does not meet B-III runway separation standards. • ARP can modify the standard if the wingtip of the actual aircraft using the airport does not penetrate the OFZ standard • ARP cannot modify a standard where the wingtip penetrates the OFZ– This is a safety of flight standard that requires Flight Standards Action • Flight Standards can impose operational restrictions on airport users to insure that safety is maintained even if a wingtip occasionally penetrates the OFZ. ARP can approve an MOS based on this determination.

9. Notify Users of Standards Deficiencies • This is the Airport/Facilities Directory Notification • It establishes the maximum aircraft characteristics (ARC) that provides an acceptable level of safety for airport operations • It places both the airport and operators on notice that they may need to use extra precaution at the airport