NPA 2017-04

Regular update of aerodrome rules (CS-ADR-DSN - Issue 4)

The objective of this notice of proposed amendment (NPA) is to maintain a high level of safety of aerodrome design by reissuing CS-ADR-DSN (certification specifications (CS) and guidance material (GM) for aerodrome design) in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) developments and other technical improvements, as provided below. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) proposes this reissue of CS-ADR-DSN to support and facilitate the aerodrome operators, airport industry as well as the respective competent authorities (CAs) that are currently performing a certification process in accordance Regulation (EU) No 139/2014. The envisaged changes are to be taken into account in the following certification processes of aerodromes.

This NPA proposes to reissue CS-ADR-DSN mainly in accordance with the ICAO Standards And Recommended Practices (SARPs) of ICAO Annex 14, ‘Aerodromes’, Volume I, ‘Aerodrome Design and Operations’ (ICAO Annex 14, ‘Aerodromes’, Volume I), Amendment 13-A (ICAO State Letter AN 4/1.2.26-16/19). Some of Amendment 13-A proposed changes, i.e. reduced taxiway and taxilane separation distances, or marking and lighting of wind turbines, have already been incorporated into CS-ADR-DSN, Issue 2 and CS-ADR-DSN, Issue 3, respectively.

Additionally, this NPA proposes changes to the current aerodrome design CSs related to the aerodrome reference code (ARC), the runway width and shoulders, and strip and separation distances between runways and taxiways.

Those changes are proposed to be adopted before the same proposed changes in the respective ICAO SARPs, expected for adoption in 2018.

The proposed changes, and in particular those related to the ARC, are expected to generate significant cost savings for the operators of code D, E and F aerodromes due to lower construction and maintenance costs, and produce environmental benefits. In addition, they will provide greater opportunities for the airlines since large aircraft will be able to operate at aerodromes with the existing infrastructure that are currently not fulfilling code F aerodrome requirements, while fully sustaining the existing high level of safety