Advisory Circular 139 21 Visual Segment Surface Moniring Requirements Reporting Obstacles
Advisory Circular 139 21 Visual Segment Surface Moniring Requirements Reporting Obstacles
Advisory Circular 139 21 Visual Segment Surface Moniring Requirements Reporting Obstacles
AC 139-21
Visual segment surface: monitoring
requirements and the reporting of
obstacles
Advisory Circulars are intended to provide advice and guidance to illustrate a means, but not necessarily the only
means, of complying with the Regulations, or to explain certain regulatory requirements by providing informative,
interpretative and explanatory material.
Advisory Circulars should always be read in conjunction with the relevant regulations.
Audience
This Advisory Circular (AC) applies to:
• operators of certified and registered aerodromes that have a published runway aligned
instrument approach procedure
• aerodrome personnel that are tasked to monitor obstacles in their visual segment
surface (VSS)
• personnel engaged by the aerodrome operator to survey for obstacles in their VSS on
behalf of their procedure designer
• holders of an instrument flight procedure design certificate under Part 173 of the Civil
Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).
Purpose
The purpose of this AC is to provide general information to aerodrome operators on the VSS.
For certain instrument flight procedures, the VSS forms part of the airspace defined through the
Procedures for Air Navigation Services - Aircraft Operations (PANS-OPS).
PANS-OPS airspace is used by aircraft flying under the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). For
example, aircraft flying an instrument approach procedure in less than “Visual Meteorological
Conditions” (VMC) or conforming to an instrument approach procedure to ensure adequate
terrain clearance in either Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) or Visual Meteorological
Conditions. Where pilots are using an instrument flight procedure to perform an instrument
approach to a runway with an aligned procedure, the VSS is an additional segment of airspace
that needs to be kept clear of obstacles.
This AC also provides clarification on how aerodrome operators can comply with the Part 139
Manual of Standards (MOS) with regard to monitoring their PANS-OPS airspace, particularly
with regard to the VSS.
Unless specified otherwise, all subregulations, regulations, divisions, subparts and parts
referenced in this AC are references to the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR).
Status
This version of the AC is approved by the Executive Manager, Standards Division.
Contents
1 Reference material 5
1.1 Acronyms 5
1.2 Definitions 6
1.3 References 6
2 General 7
2.1 Quick reference guide 7
3 Background 9
3.1 Introduction to instrument flight procedures 9
3.2 Instrument flight procedure design 12
4 Visual segment surface 13
4.1 Overview 13
4.2 Lateral parameters of the VSS 13
4.3 Vertical parameters of the VSS 17
5 Monitoring of the VSS 19
5.1 Regulatory requirements 19
5.2 Types and sources of obstacles 19
5.3 Monitoring parameters and procedure 19
5.4 Conducting an initial survey of the VSS on the request of the procedure designer 21
6 Reporting of existing or potential obstacles 22
6.1 When to report 22
6.2 Managing a VSS penetration 22
1 Reference material
1.1 Acronyms
The acronyms and abbreviations used in this AC are listed in the table below.
Acronym Description
AC Advisory Circular
LOC Localiser
PA Precision Approach
PANS-OPS Procedures for Air Navigation Services - Aircraft Operations
1.2 Definitions
Terms that have specific meaning within this AC are defined in the table below.
Term Definition
Instrument runway A runway intended for the operation of aircraft using a runway aligned
instrument approach procedure.
Obstacle Clearance The lowest height above the elevation of the relevant runway threshold or the
Height aerodrome elevation as applicable. It is used to establish compliance with the
appropriate obstacle clearance criteria.
Note: Obstacle clearance height is referenced to the threshold elevation or in the
case of non-precision approach procedures to the aerodrome elevation or
the threshold elevation if that is more than 2 m (7 ft) below the aerodrome
elevation. An obstacle clearance height for a circling approach procedure
is referenced to the aerodrome elevation.
Non-precision approach An instrument runway served by visual aids and a non-visual aid providing at
runway least directional guidance adequate for a straight-in approach. (ICAO)
Straight-in approach Where an aircraft manoeuvres to approach the runway for landing without
visual circling or flying a circuit and can be conducted in either IMC or VMC
conditions.
Note: Straight-in instrument approaches are not always designed to align with
the runway centreline.
1.3 References
Regulations
Regulations are available on the ComLaw website http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Home
Document Title
Document Title
Doc 8168 Procedures for Air Navigation Services Aircraft Operations - Volume II
2 General
2.1.7 Each of these aspects and relevant background information is expanded throughout the
remainder of this AC. A compliance reference checklist is also included in Appendix A.
3 Background
1
Airservices Australia website is available at: http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/aip.asp
3.1.2.7 In the next example (Figure 3), the top right hand corner of the DAP approach chart
(RNAV-E - GNSS) shows the procedure has been designed for an eastern sector of
Smithton Aerodrome, in Tasmania. Although the procedure appears to align with
Runway 24, it is not titled for this particular runway designation. The omission of a
straight-in minima is another indication that this procedure allows for circling only (as
indicated by the highlighted section at the bottom of the chart) and will not include a
VSS:
3.1.2.8 If no other published procedure features a designation to a particular runway, then the
runway is non-instrument and no VSS will need to be established.
4.1 Overview
4.1.1 The VSS concept originated from an ICAO working panel. From 15 March 2007, ICAO
mandated that all new straight-in instrument approach procedures must feature VSS
protection. From 15 March 2012, VSS was mandated for all existing straight-in
instrument approach procedures.
4.1.2 The purpose of a VSS is to protect the aircraft from ground based obstacles prior to
landing, while the pilot transitions from flying on instruments to using the visual
references available at the aerodrome.
4.1.3 Under the Part 173 MOS, the procedure designer must provide the VSS parameters to
the aerodrome operator. Information on lateral and vertical parameters can be found in
sections 4.2 to 4.3.
2
RNP RWY means required navigation performance runway.
Figure 4: DAP approach chart (plate) showing where the guidance type details can be located.
4.2.3.2 In plain terms, this type of VSS originates along the baseline for the 'inner approach
surface', which forms part of the obstacle limitation surface (OLS).
Note: For more information on the inner approach surface refer to paragraph 7.3.2.8 of the Part 139 MOS.
4.2.3.3 Therefore, each side of the VSS runs parallel to the runway centreline, at a width equal
to the inner approach baseline.
4.2.3.4 The VSS continues to move away from the inner approach baseline until the distance
where the vertical component of the VSS reaches the OCH.
4.2.3.5 A diagram of the lateral parameters for this category of VSS has been provided at the
lower part of Figure 5 below:
Figure 5: The VSS of procedures with localizer or localizer look-alike lateral guidance aligned with
4
the runway centreline
4.2.4 Other runway aligned procedures that can be flown using a straight-in approach
4.2.4.1 Sub-paragraph 5.4.6.1 (b) to Vol II of the PANS-OPS states:
for all other straight-in instrument approach procedures:
3
OCH stands for obstacle clearance height
4
Figure sourced from PANS-OPS Vol II
1) a base width equal to the runway strip width originating 60 m prior to the runway
threshold, splaying 15 per cent on either side of the extended runway centre line, and
terminating at the point where the height of the surface reaches the OCH
2) where the final approach course is offset and intersects the extended runway centre
line, the splay on the side closest to the final approach course is increased by the
offset angle; and
3) where the final approach course is offset but does not intersect the extended runway
centre line, the splay closest to the final approach course is increased by an amount
equal to the final approach course offset at 1 400 m from the runway threshold.
4.2.4.2 In plain terms, this type of VSS originates along the baseline for the 'approach surface',
which forms part of the OLS.
Note: For more information on the approach surface, refer to paragraph 7.3.2.5 of the Part 139 MOS.
4.2.4.3 The width of the baseline should refer to the greater of the actual or published runway
strip.
4.2.4.4 Unlike the VSS for localiser or look-alike lateral guidance, each side of the VSS
diverges away from the approach baseline along a 15% splay. Refer to the lower part of
Figure 6 below.
5
Figure 6: The VSS of other approach procedures for a normal straight-in approach
5
Figure sourced from PANS-OPS Vol II
4.2.4.5 The VSS continues to move away from the inner approach baseline until the distance
where the vertical component of the VSS reaches the OCH.
4.2.4.6 In the case of an offset approach angle that is different to the runway centreline, refer
to:
− subparagraphs 5.4.6.1 (b) (2) and (3) of Vol II to PANS-OPS
− Figure 7 and Figure 8 below
6
Figure 7: Plan view of VSS for an offset final approach with a runway centre line crossing
6
Figure 8: Plan view of VSS with an offset final approach parallel to the runway centre line
6
Figures sourced from PANS-OPS Vol II
Figure 9: DAP approach chart (plate) showing where the designed approach slope details can be
located.
End point from threshold (metres): Distance until the vertical component of the
VSS reaches the OCH (metres)
Height of end point above threshold elevation Height of OCH above the height of the
(feet / meters): threshold (feet / metres)
5.3.2.1 A list of controlling obstacles used to design the instrument flight procedure also
provides useful information.
5.3.2.2 Once this table (or similar) is completed by the procedure designer, it needs to be sent
to the aerodrome operator. For convenience, a blank table is provided in Appendix B.
5.3.2.3 Upon receipt of this information, the aerodrome operator needs to ensure their
procedures are appropriate to monitor for obstacles in their VSS. It is recommended
that these procedures consider the following:
− Routine visual assessments of the VSS from the aerodrome. This could involve
either
o a trained and competent person such as an Aerodrome Reporting Officer who
is familiar with the VSS
or
o a surveyor who has been briefed on the VSS.
− Ensuring the VSS (and the other PANS-OPS airspace) is considered for any
development applications that could impact upon the instrument flight procedures
published for the aerodrome.
Note: For many aerodromes, protection of the VSS (and the other PANS-OPS airspace) will involve more than
one planning authority. In these cases, procedures for liaising with these external planning authorities is
considered essential.
5.3.2.4 For runways with more than one VSS, which may also include those from different
instrument flight procedure designers, the PANS-OPS airspace monitoring procedures
should consider the extremities of the combined surfaces. The designer of the
instrument flight procedure can be determined by the logo at the bottom on the chart.
5.4.1 When designing a new instrument flight procedure or establishing the VSS for an
existing procedure, the designer may request additional obstacle information from the
aerodrome operator or engage a surveyor, as appropriate.
5.4.2 For convenience, a blank table is provided in Appendix B. This table can be used to
brief the surveyor on the VSS parameters to be the surveyed.
Appendix A
Appendix B
VSS PARAMETERS
Table 4: Aerodrome details
Aerodrome details:
Name of aerodrome:
Aerodrome operator:
Runway designation: