CS ADR-DSN.A.001 Applicability

ED Decision 2021/004/R

The certification specifications (CSs) and the related guidance material (GM) are applicable to aerodromes that fall within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (Basic Regulation).

[Issue: ADR-DSN/5]

GM1 ADR-DSN.A.001 Applicability

ED Decision 2021/004/R

At an aerodrome that falls within the scope of the Basic Regulation and has more than one runway, at least one runway should meet the criteria contained in Article 2 of the Basic Regulation. However, it is not compulsory for other ‘types’ of runways at an aerodrome to meet the criteria of Article 2 of the Basic Regulation. Such runways may be non-instrument runways, unpaved runways, shorter than 800 m runways, runways which are not open to public use or for commercial air transport. The certification specifications and guidance material are applicable also to those runways.

[Issue: ADR-DSN/5]

CS ADR-DSN.A.002 Definitions

ED Decision 2022/006/R

For the purposes of CS-ADR-DSN, the following definitions should apply:

‘Accuracy’ means a degree of conformance between the estimated or measured value and the true value.

‘Aerodrome’ means a defined area (including any buildings, installations and equipment) on land or water or on a fixed offshore or floating structure intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft.

‘Aerodrome beacon’ means an aeronautical beacon used to indicate the location of an aerodrome from the air.

‘Aerodrome elevation’ means the elevation of the highest point of the landing area.

‘Aerodrome equipment’ means any equipment, apparatus, appurtenance, software or accessory, that is used or intended to be used to contribute to the operation of aircraft at an aerodrome.

‘Aerodrome operator’ means any legal or natural person, operating or proposing to operate one or more aerodromes.

‘Aerodrome traffic density’ means the number of movements in the mean busy hour and is the arithmetic mean over the year of the number of movements in the daily busiest hour. Movement is either a take-off or a landing:

(a) — Light. Where the number of movements in the mean busy hour is not greater than 15 per runway or typically less than 20 total aerodrome movements.

(b) — Medium. Where the number of movements in the mean busy hour is of the order of 16 to 25 per runway or typically between 20 to 35 total aerodrome movements.

(c) — Heavy. Where the number of movements in the mean busy hour is of the order of 26 or more per runway or typically more than 35 total aerodrome movements.

‘Aeronautical beacon’ means an aeronautical ground light visible at all azimuths, either continuously or intermittently, to designate a particular point on the surface of the earth.

‘Aeronautical ground light’ means any light specially provided as an aid to air navigation, other than a light displayed on an aircraft.

‘Aeroplane’ means a power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft, deriving its lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces which remain fixed under given conditions of flight;

‘Aeroplane reference field length’ means the minimum field length required for take-off at maximum certificated take-off mass, sea level, standard atmospheric conditions, still air and zero runway slope, as shown in the appropriate aeroplane flight manual prescribed by the certificating authority or equivalent data from the aeroplane manufacturer. Field length means balanced field length for aeroplanes, if applicable, or take-off distance in other cases.

‘Arresting system’ means a system designed to decelerate an aeroplane overrunning the runway.

‘Autonomous runway incursion warning system (ARIWS)’ means a system which provides autonomous detection of a potential incursion or of the occupancy of an active runway and a direct warning to a flight crew or a vehicle operator.

‘Aircraft’ means a machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface.

‘Aircraft stand’ means a designated area on an apron intended to be used for parking an aircraft.

‘Aircraft stand taxilane’ means a portion of an apron designated as a taxiway and intended to provide access to aircraft stands only.

‘Apron’ means a defined area intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, fuelling, parking, or maintenance.

‘Apron service road’ means a road located on or adjacent to an apron, intended for the exclusive use of vehicles.

‘Apron taxiway’ means a portion of a taxiway system located on an apron and intended to provide a through taxi-route across the apron.

‘Balked landing’ means a landing manoeuvre that is unexpectedly discontinued at any point below the obstacle clearance altitude/height (OCA/H).

‘Barrette’ means three or more aeronautical ground lights closely spaced in a transverse line so that from a distance they appear as a short bar of light.

‘Certification specifications’ mean technical standards adopted by the Agency indicating means to show compliance with Regulation (EU) No 2018/1139 and its Implementing Rules and which can be used by an organisation for the purpose of certification.

‘Clearway’ means a defined rectangular area on the ground or water under the control of the appropriate entity, selected or prepared as a suitable area over which an aeroplane may make a portion of its initial climb to a specified height.

‘Critical Area’ means an area of defined dimensions extending about the ground equipment of a precision instrument approach within which the presence of vehicles or aircraft will cause unacceptable disturbance of the guidance signals.

‘Datum’ means any quantity or set of quantities that may serve as a reference or basis for the calculation of other quantities (ISO 19104).

‘Declared distances’ means:

             ‘Take-off run available (TORA)’ means the length of runway declared available and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane taking off.

             ‘Take-off distance available (TODA)’ means the length of the take-off run available plus the length of the clearway if provided.

             ‘Accelerate-stop distance available (ASDA)’ means the length of the take-off run available plus the length of the stopway if provided.

             ‘Landing distance available (LDA)’ means the length of runway which is declared available and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane landing.

‘De-icing/anti-icing facility’ means a facility where frost, ice, or snow is removed (de-icing) from the aeroplane to provide clean surfaces, and/or where clean surfaces of the aeroplane receive protection (anti-icing) against the formation of frost or ice and accumulation of snow or slush for a limited period of time.

‘De-icing/anti-icing pad’ means an area comprising an inner area for the parking of an aeroplane to receive de-icing/anti-icing treatment and an outer area for the manoeuvring of two or more mobile de-icing/anti-icing equipment.

‘Dependent parallel approaches’ means simultaneous approaches to parallel or near-parallel instrument runways where radar separation minima between aircraft on adjacent extended runway centre lines are prescribed.

‘Displaced threshold’ means a threshold not located at the extremity of a runway.

‘Effective intensity’ means that the effective intensity of a flashing light is equal to the intensity of a fixed light of the same colour which will produce the same visual range under identical conditions of observation.

‘Fixed light’ means a light having constant luminous intensity when observed from a fixed point.

‘Foreign object debris (FOD)’ means an inanimate object within the movement area which has no operational or aeronautical function and which has the potential to be a hazard to aircraft operations.

‘Frangibility’ means the ability of an object to retain its structural integrity and stiffness up to a specified maximum load but when subject to a load greater than specified or struck by an aircraft will break, distort or yield in a manner designed to present minimum hazard to an aircraft.

‘Frangible object’ means an object of low mass designed to break, distort or yield on impact so as to present the minimum hazard to aircraft.

‘Frost’ means ice crystals formed from airborne moisture on a surface whose temperature is below freezing; frost differs from ice in that the frost crystals grow independently and therefore have a more granular texture.

Note 1: ‘Below freezing’ refers to air temperature equal to or less than the freezing point of water (0 degree Celsius).

Note 2: Under certain conditions, frost can cause the surface to become very slippery and it is then reported appropriately as downgraded RWYCC.

‘Graded area’ means that part of the runway strip cleared of all obstacles, except for specified items and graded, intended to reduce the risk of damage to an aircraft running off the runway.

‘Hazard beacon’ means an aeronautical beacon used to designate a danger to air navigation.

‘Holding bay’ means a defined area where aircraft can be held, or bypassed to facilitate efficient surface movement of aircraft.

‘Holdover time’ means the estimated time during which the anti-icing fluid (treatment) will prevent the formation of ice and frost and the accumulation of snow on the protected (treated) surfaces of an aeroplane.

‘Hot spot’ means a location on an aerodrome movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion, and where heightened attention by pilots/drivers is necessary.

‘Ice’ means water that has frozen or compacted snow that has transitioned into ice in cold and dry conditions.

‘Identification beacon’ means an aeronautical beacon emitting a coded signal by means of which a particular point of reference can be identified.

‘Independent parallel approaches’ means simultaneous approaches to parallel or near-parallel instrument runways where radar separation minima between aircraft on adjacent extended runway centre lines are not prescribed.

‘Independent parallel departures’ means simultaneous departures from parallel or near-parallel instrument runways.

‘Instrument runway’ means one of the following types of runways intended for the operation of aircraft using instrument approach procedures:

1. ‘Non-precision approach runway’: a runway served by visual aids and at least one non-visual aid, intended for landing operations following a type A instrument approach operation.

2. ‘Precision approach runway, Category I’: a runway served by visual aids and at least one non‑visual aid, intended for landing operations following a type B CAT I instrument approach operation.

3. ‘Precision approach runway, Category II’: a runway served by visual aids and at least one non‑visual aid, intended for landing operations following a type B CAT II instrument approach operation.

4. ‘Precision approach runway, Category III’: a runway served by visual aids and at least one non‑visual aid, intended for landing operations following a type B CAT III instrument approach operation.

‘Intermediate holding position’ means a designated position intended for traffic control at which taxiing aircraft and vehicles should stop and hold until further cleared to proceed when so instructed by the appropriate air traffic control unit.

‘Isolated aircraft parking position’ means an area suitable for the parking of an aircraft which is known or suspected to be the subject of unlawful interference, or for other reasons needs isolation from normal aerodrome activities.

‘Landing area’ means that part of a movement area intended for the landing or take-off of aircraft.

‘Landing direction indicator’ means a device to indicate visually the direction currently designated for landing and for take-off.

‘Lighting system reliability’ means the probability that the complete installation operates within the specified tolerances and that the system is operationally usable.

‘Manoeuvring area’ means that part of an aerodrome to be used for the take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, excluding aprons.

‘Marker’ means an object displayed above ground level in order to indicate an obstacle or delineate a boundary.

‘Marking’ means a symbol or group of symbols displayed on the surface of the movement area in order to convey aeronautical information.

‘Movement area’ means that part of an aerodrome to be used for the take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, consisting of the manoeuvring area and the apron(s).

‘Near-parallel runways’ means non-intersecting runways whose extended centre lines have an angle of convergence/divergence of 15 degrees or less.

‘Non-instrument runway’ means a runway intended for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures.

‘Obstacle’ means all fixed (whether temporary or permanent) and mobile objects, or parts thereof, that:

             are located on an area intended for the surface movement of aircraft; or

             extend above a defined surface intended to protect aircraft in flight; or

             stand outside those defined surfaces and that have been assessed as being a hazard to air navigation.

‘Obstacle-free zone (OFZ)’ means the airspace above the inner approach surface, inner transitional surfaces, and balked landing surface and that portion of the strip bounded by these surfaces, which is not penetrated by any fixed obstacle other than a low-mass and frangibly mounted one required for air navigation purposes.

‘Obstacle limitation surface’ means a surface that defines the limits to which objects may project into the airspace.

‘Obstacle protection surface’ means a surface established for visual approach slope indicator system above which objects or extensions of existing objects shall not be permitted except when, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, the new object or extension would be shielded by an existing immovable object.

‘Operator’ means any legal or natural person, operating or proposing to operate one or more aircraft or one or more aerodromes.

‘Outer main gear wheel span (OMGWS)’ means the distance between the outside edges of the main gear wheels.

‘Paved runway’ means a runway with a hard surface that is made up of engineered and manufactured materials bound together so it is durable and either flexible or rigid.

‘Precision approach runway’, see ‘instrument runway’.

‘Primary runway(s)’ means runway(s) used in preference to others whenever conditions permit.

‘Rapid exit taxiway’ means a taxiway connected to a runway at an acute angle and designed to allow landing aeroplanes to turn off at higher speeds than are achieved on other exit taxiways thereby minimising runway occupancy times;

‘Road’ means an established surface route on the movement area meant for the exclusive use of vehicles.

‘Road-holding position’ means a designated position at which vehicles may be required to hold.

‘Runway’ means a defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft.

‘Runway end safety area (RESA)’ means an area symmetrical about the extended runway centre line and adjacent to the end of the strip primarily intended to reduce the risk of damage to an aeroplane undershooting or overrunning the runway.

‘Runway guard lights’ means a light system intended to caution pilots or vehicle drivers that they are about to enter an active runway.

‘Runway-holding position’ means a designated position intended to protect a runway, an obstacle limitation surface, or an ILS/MLS critical/sensitive area at which taxiing aircraft and vehicles should stop and hold, unless otherwise authorised by the aerodrome control tower.

‘Runway strip’ means a defined area including the runway and stopway, if provided, intended:

             to reduce the risk of damage to aircraft running off a runway; and

             to protect aircraft flying over it during take-off or landing operations.

‘Runway turn pad’ means a defined area on a land aerodrome adjacent to a runway for the purpose of completing a 180-degree turn on a runway.

‘Runway type’ means instrument runway or non-instrument runway.

‘Runway visual range (RVR)’ means the range over which the pilot of an aircraft on the centre line of a runway can see the runway surface markings or the lights delineating the runway or identifying its centre line.

‘Segregated parallel operations’ means simultaneous operations on parallel or near-parallel instrument runways in which one runway is used exclusively for approaches and the other runway is used exclusively for departures.

‘Sensitive area’ means an area extending beyond the Critical Area where the parking and/or movement of aircraft or vehicles will affect the guidance signal to the extent that it may be rendered unacceptable to aircraft using the signal.

‘Shoulder’ means an area adjacent to the edge of a pavement so prepared as to provide a transition between the pavement and the adjacent surface.

‘Sign’:

             Fixed message sign means a sign presenting only one message;

             Variable message sign means a sign capable of presenting several predetermined messages or no message, as applicable.

‘Signal area’ means an area on an aerodrome used for the display of ground signals.

‘Slush’ means snow that is so water-saturated that water will drain from it when a handful is picked up or will splatter if stepped on forcefully.

‘Snow’ (on the ground):

             ‘Dry snow’ means snow from which a snowball cannot readily be made.

             ‘Wet snow’ means snow that contains enough water to be able to make a well-compacted, solid snowball, but water will not squeeze out.

             ‘Compacted snow’ means snow that has been compacted into a solid mass such that aeroplane tyres, at operating pressures and loadings, will run on the surface without significant further compaction or rutting of the surface.

‘Standing water’ means water of depth greater than 3 mm.

Note: Running water of depth greater than 3 mm is reported as ‘standing water’ by convention.

‘Stopway’ means a defined rectangular area on the ground at the end of take-off run available prepared as a suitable area in which an aircraft can be stopped in the case of an abandoned take-off.

‘Surface friction’ means the resistance offered to the movement of one body past a surface with which it is in contact.

‘Switch-over time (light)’ means the time required for the actual intensity of a light measured in a given direction to fall from 50 % and recover to 50 % during a power supply changeover, when the light is being operated at intensities of 25 % or above.

‘Take-off runway’ means a runway intended for take-off only.

‘Taxiway’ means a defined path on a land aerodrome established for the taxiing of aircraft and intended to provide a link between one part of the aerodrome and another, including:

             Aircraft stand taxilane;

             Apron taxiway;

             Rapid exit taxiway.

‘Taxiway intersection’ means a junction of two or more taxiways.

‘Taxiway strip’ means an area including a taxiway intended to protect an aircraft operating on the taxiway and to reduce the risk of damage to an aircraft accidentally running off the taxiway.

‘Threshold’ means the beginning of that portion of the runway usable for landing.

‘Touchdown zone’ means the portion of a runway, beyond the threshold, where landing aeroplanes are intended to first contact the runway.

‘Type A instrument approach operation’ means an instrument approach operation with a minimum descent height or decision height at or above 75 m (250 ft);

‘Type B instrument approach operation’ means an instrument approach operation with a decision height below 75 m (250 ft) categorised as follows:

1. Category I (CAT I): a decision height not lower than 60 m (200 ft) and with either a visibility not less than 800 m or a runway visual range not less than 550 m;

2. Category II (CAT II): a decision height lower than 60 m (200 ft), but not lower than 30 m (100 ft) and a runway visual range not less than 300 m;

3. Category III (CAT III): a decision height lower than 30 m (100 ft) or no decision height and a runway visual range less than 300 m or no runway visual range limitations.

‘Usability factor’ means the percentage of time during which the use of a runway or system of runways is not restricted because of the crosswind component.

‘Visual aids’ means indicators and signalling devices, markings, lights, signs and markers or combinations thereof.

‘Visual approach slope indicator system’ means a system of lights arranged to provide visual descent guidance information during the approach to a runway.

‘Wet ice’ means ice with water on top of it or ice that is melting.

Note: Freezing precipitation can lead to runway conditions associated with wet ice from an aeroplane performance point of view. Wet ice can cause the surface to become very slippery. It is then reported appropriately as downgraded RWYCC.

[Issue: ADR-DSN/3]

[Issue: ADR-DSN/4]

[Issue: ADR-DSN/5]

[Issue: ADR-DSN/6]

GM1 ADR-DSN.A.002 Definitions

ED Decision 2022/006/R

Crosswind component is the surface wind component at right angles to the runway centre line.

[Issue: ADR-DSN/6]

CS ADR-DSN.A.005 Aerodrome reference code (ARC)

ED Decision 2017/021/R

(a) An aerodrome reference code, consisting of a code number and letter which is selected for aerodrome planning purposes, should be determined in accordance with the characteristics of the aeroplane for which an aerodrome facility is intended.

(b) The aerodrome reference code numbers and letters should have the meanings assigned to them in Table A-1.

(c) The code number for element 1 should be determined from Table A-1, by selecting the code number corresponding to the highest value of the aeroplane reference field lengths of the aeroplanes for which the runway is intended. The determination of the aeroplane reference field length is solely for the selection of a code number and is not intended to influence the actual runway length provided.

(d) The code letter for element 2 should be determined from Table A-1, by selecting the code letter which corresponds to the greatest wingspan of the aeroplanes for which the facility is intended.

Code element 1

Code number

Aeroplane reference field length

1

Less than 800 m

2

800 m up to but not including 1 200 m

3

1 200 m up to but not including 1 800 m

4

1 800 m and over

Code element 2

Code letter

Wingspan

A

Up to but not including 15 m

B

15 m up to but not including 24 m

C

24 m up to but not including 36 m

D

36 m up to but not including 52 m

E

52 m up to but not including 65 m

F

65 m up to but not including 80 m

Table A-1 Aerodrome reference code

[Issue: ADR-DSN/3]

[Issue: ADR-DSN/4]

GM1 ADR-DSN.A.005 Aerodrome reference code (ARC)

ED Decision 2022/006/R

(a) The intent of the reference code is to provide a simple method for interrelating the numerous specifications concerning the characteristics of aerodromes so as to provide a series of aerodrome facilities that are suitable for the aeroplanes that are intended to operate at the aerodrome. The code is not intended to be used for determining runway length or pavement strength requirements. The code is composed of two elements which are related to the aeroplane performance characteristics and dimensions.

(b) Element 1 is a number based on the aeroplane reference field length, and element 2 is a letter based on the aeroplane wingspan. The code letter or number within an element selected for design purposes is related to the critical aeroplane characteristics for which the facility is provided. When applying CS-ADR-DSN text, the aeroplanes which the aerodrome is intended to serve, are first identified and then the two elements of the code.

(c) In addition to the reference code, other aircraft characteristics, such as aircraft length and tail height, may also have an impact on the design of an aerodrome. Additionally, some characteristics of a piece of infrastructure are directly related to one element of the code (wingspan or wheel span) but are not impacted by other. The aerodrome designer should consider all the relationships between aircraft characteristics and aerodromes and piece of infrastructures characteristics.

(d) It is not intended that the specifications deriving from the aerodrome reference code limit or regulate the operation of an aircraft.

(e) It is recognised that not all areas of the aerodrome should need to correspond to the critical aeroplane that determines the Aerodrome Reference Code. Elements of the aerodrome infrastructure that do not meet the requirements of the Aerodrome Reference Code for the design aeroplane should be designated with an appropriate code letter for its dimensions. Limitations should be identified to aircraft size permitted or operating limitations. ICAO, Annex 14 does not provide sufficient flexibility for infrastructure intended for different sizes of aircraft. It only addresses the ‘design aircraft’. This enables all areas of the aerodrome to reflect the aerodrome reference code.

(f) Further guidance on aerodrome reference code and on planning for aeroplanes with wingspans greater than 80 m is given in ICAO Doc 9157, Aerodrome Design Manual, Part 1, Runways, and Part 2, Taxiways, Aprons and Holding Bays.

Additional guidance on determining the runway length is given in ICAO Doc 9157, Aerodrome Design Manual, Part 1, Runways.

Note: References to the ICAO documents provided in CS-ADR-DSN are made for additional guidance. Changes in the CS-ADR-DSN regarding the aerodrome reference code are not yet fully reflected in these documents.

(g) In the case of an aeroplane equipped with folding wing tips, its reference code letter may change as a result of the folding/extending of the wing tips. Consideration will be given to the wingspan configuration and resultant operations of the aeroplane at an aerodrome.

Further information concerning aeroplanes with folding wing tips, physical characteristics, and the concept of normal and non-normal operations can be found in the manufacturer’s aircraft characteristics for airport planning manual.

[Issue: ADR-DSN/3]

[Issue: ADR-DSN/4]

[Issue: ADR-DSN/6]

CS ADR-DSN.A.010

ED Decision 2014/013/R

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GM1 ADR-DSN.A.010

ED Decision 2014/013/R

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