SAFEGUARDING MAPS & CHARTS FOR LICENSED AND UNLICENSED AERODROMES

A NEW APPROACH

HM Government and the CAA recommend that all airfields prepare a safeguarding chart in order to help protect their operations. A safeguarding chart is a way for Local Planning Authorities to filter out planning applications without having to refer them ALL to the airfield operator. ASD has brought safeguarding charts up-to-date - no longer the large, unwieldy printed versions. Using modern technology ASD does all the necessary analysis and then provides a file loadable directly into Google Earth©. A graphic is also supplied for insertion into GIS. This approach reduces the cost significantly without compromising the accuracy.

The CAA-recommended map format is given in CAP 738. Charts prepared by ASD meet or exceed all the requirements of CAP 738. They show all the licensed runways and strips with their approach and takeoff surfaces, horizontal and conical surfaces (physical safeguarding), and take into account navigation aids (technical safeguarding) and other limiting surfaces. The grid squares are colour coded showing the maximum height (AGL) to which building may take place in that square without reference to the airport.

If the CAA used to be responsible for your safeguarding, it will have provided a final safeguarding map to your LPAs. Hopefully this map represents the current operational situation (it's worth checking). However, in due course you may introduce changes to the airport such as new runways or extensions, or new navigation aids such as ILS. As it is important that these changes are reflected in the safeguarding map it may be necessary to have a new one prepared - one that has all the limiting surfaces marked on it. It is also worth noting that planned developments may also be safeguarded.

If, like the majority of aerodromes, you have always had the responsibility for safeguarding, it is strongly recommended that you have a chart prepared.

ASD provides a service for the many small airfields that need a safeguarding chart, and helps them how to use it. In addition, we can provide an easy-to-use maximum height assessment package.