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May 2008

FAA Order 8260.54A and how it will affect your obstacle analysis in TERPS.

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Aviation Acronyms
  Acronyms Meaning Additional Information
AMSL Above Mean Sea Level  
ARP Airport Reference Point  
FAA Federal Aviation Administration  
FCC Federal Communication Commission  
GPS Global Positioning System  
IAP Instrument Approach Procedure  
ILS Instrument Landing System  
LOC Localizer  
MLS Microwave Landing System  
NDB Non-Directional Beacon Allows the pilot to fly between two locations using ground based transmitters and airborne receivers. NDBs emit a continuous radio signal, like spokes coming from the hub of a wheel. Each spoke (bearing) is a path to the NDB Aircraft use an automatic direction finder to locate the NDV by following the "spokes" (bearing) to the NDB. Each NDB has its own identifier or ident.
NOAA National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration  
OMS Obstacle Management System  
PAR Precision Approach Radar  
RNAV Area Navigation  
VOR Very High Frequency Omni Directional Range  
 

Aviation Definitions
Term Definition
Horizontal Surface The plane 150’ above the established ARP for utility or visual runway surface extends 5000’ all others 10,000’
Conical Surface Extends 4000’ past where the horizontal surface ends – slope is 20/1 – every 20 ‘ in horizontal surface distance increases in height by 1’.
Transitional Surface Connects obstacle surfaces together -- connects approach surface to horizontal and conical.
Runway types:
Visual No instrumental procedures – intended solely for aircraft using visual approach procedures w/no straight-in instrument approach procedures (existing or planned)
Non-Precision Instrument Runway has an existing or planned instrument approach procedure utilizing air navigation facilities with only horizontal guidance or area type navigational equipment (VOR, NDB, GPS) Straight-in only.
Precision Has existing or planned instrument approach procedure utilizing an ILS, MLS or PAR. Horizontal & vertical guidance.
Types of VOR
VOR Basic Navigational facility provides lateral information signals
VOR/DME Lateral information and distance (DME) straight line distance from station
TACAN Tactical Air Navigation – used by military – requires airborne military TACAN receivers
Slopes
50/1 Precision
34/1 Non-Precision
20/1 Conical
Localizer
A localizer is one component of an ILS or Instrument Landing System. The localizer usually provides runway centerline guidance to aircraft. In some cases a localizer is at an angle to the runway usually due to obstructions around the airport. Localizers also exist in stand-alone instrument approach installations and are not always part of an ILS or Instrument Landing System
ASDE
Airport Surface Detection Equipment-- enables air traffic controllers to detect potential runway conflicts by providing detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways, by collecting data from a variety of sources.
RTR
Remote Transmitter/Receiver
ASR
Airport surveillance radar systems are capable of reliably detecting and tracking aircraft at altitudes below 25,000 feet (7,620 meters) and within 40 to 60 nautical miles (75 to 110 km) of their airport.
VOR/VORTAC-VOR/DME
A ground radio station consisting of a collocated very-high-frequency Omnidirectional radio range (VOR) and TACAN facility; this station permits obtaining polar coordinates by the use of VOR receiver and distance-measuring equipment, or by TACAN equipment alone.