ADR.18 When is EASA going to implement the new Aircraft Classification Rating – Pavement Classification Rating (ACR–PCR) method?

In 2020, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted with Amendment 15 to its Annex 14, Volume I ‘Aerodromes — Aerodrome Design and Operations’, a new method for expressing and calculating the bearing strength of a pavement, called the ACR-PCR. A transition period of 4 years has been set by ICAO, and the new method will become applicable on 28 November 2024, replacing the current Aircraft Classification Number – Pavement Classification Number (ACN–PCN) method.

The applicability of the ACR-PCR method in the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Member States has been deferred to a later date, and there is currently ongoing work to transpose the new method in the European Union (EU) regulatory framework.

Following the questions received from stakeholders, EASA has prepared guidance to support them in their efforts to implement the new ACR-PCR method. The guidance:

• provides information on the steps and planed time frame for the transposition of the new method in the EU regulatory framework;
• presents recommended actions to the competent authorities, aerodrome operators, and aeronautical information services (AIS) providers to ensure compliance with the new method;
• details the two acceptable methods to determine the PCR values:
  • the technical evaluation method, which represents a study, or
  • ‘using the aircraft experience’ method, which represents a knowledge of the specific type and mass of aircraft being satisfactorily supported under regular use; and
• includes examples for the calculation of the ACR and PCR values.