Aerodrome Surveys and Software

The UK CAA's Aerodrome Standards Department has completed a review of airport safeguarding maps, some of which are based on data which is now more than twenty years old. Since the last nation-wide audit was conducted in 1997 these maps have been converted to the “squared” format (in 2003) but in general have not otherwise been updated.

Most maps were found to be suitable for continued use without alteration, but a few have revealed some isolated areas where safeguarding requirements seem either to be overstated or, in rare instances, under-represented. Licensee's have been advised to conduct their own analysis of these findings in order to satisfy themselves that their map still meets their requirements.

In response, SLC Associates have developed a low cost way to produce new maps using the latest features built into their GDMS Desktop (eTOD) software package. The software compares the highest terrain with the lowest obstacle limitation surface for any given tile size. Costs have been further reduced as a result of the OS Panorama terrain data, on which the charts are based, now being free of charge (OS OpenData).