ADR.OPS.B.015 Monitoring and inspection of movement area and related facilities

GENERAL

(a)The aerodrome operator should establish a monitoring and inspection program of the movement area which is commensurate with the traffic expected at the aerodrome in order to identify any default or potential hazards to the safety of aircraft or aerodrome operations.

(b)Inspections of the movement area covering items such as the presence of FOD, the status of visual aids, wildlife and current surface conditions, should be carried out each day, at least, once where the code number is 1 or 2, and, at least, twice where the code number is 3 or 4.

(c)Inspections covering other items such as other lighting systems required for the safety of aerodrome operations, pavements and adjacent ground surfaces, drainage and storm water collection systems, fencing and other access control devices, the movement area environment inside the aerodrome boundary and outside the aerodrome boundary within line of sight, should be carried out, at least, weekly.

(d)The aerodrome operator, during excessive weather events (excessive heat, freeze and thaw periods, following a significant storm, etc.) should be conducting extra inspections of paved areas to check for pavement blow-ups and debris that could damage aircraft, or cause pilots to lose directional control.

(e)The aerodrome operator should keep a log for all routine and non-routine inspections of the movement area and related facilities.

REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR MOVEMENT AREA INSPECTIONS

(a)The aerodrome operator should designate the personnel responsible for carrying out movement area inspections.

(b)The aerodrome operator should ensure that all vehicles on the manoeuvring area are in radio contact with the appropriate air traffic services either directly or through an escort.

(c)In order to prevent runway incursions, the aerodrome operator should have procedures in place, which have been coordinated with the air traffic services unit, for conducting runway inspections, communication procedures, actions in case of radio communication or transponder failure or vehicle breakdown, stop bars crossing, including in cases of stop bar unserviceability, runway crossings, etc. Runway inspections should be conducted in the opposite direction to that being used for landing or taking off and without interruption, unless it is operationally impossible. The inspection procedures should also cater for the temporary suspension of runway operations to allow a full runway inspection to be carried out without interruption, and should address the need to effectively inspect unidirectional lights.

(d)The aerodrome operator should ensure that personnel conducting movement area inspections should be trained in, at least, the following areas:

(1)aerodrome familiarisation, including aerodrome markings, signs, and lighting;

(2)Aerodrome Manual;

(3)Aerodrome Emergency Plan;

(4)Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) initiation procedures;

(5)aerodrome driving rules;

(6)procedures for radiotelephony, phraseology and ICAO phonetic alphabet;

(7)aerodrome inspection procedures and techniques;

(8)procedures for reporting inspection results and observations;

(9)air traffic services procedures on the movement area; and

(10)low-visibility procedures.

(e)Personnel conducting runway surface condition assessments, in addition to the training specified in point (d) above, should be trained in, at least, the following areas:

(1)procedures for completion/initiation of RCR;

(2)type of runway contaminants and reporting;

(3)assessment and reporting of runway surface friction characteristics;

(4)use, calibration and maintenance of runway friction measurement device, where applicable;

(5)awareness of uncertainties related to point (4) above; and

(6)awareness of the impact of runway surface condition assessment on aircraft performance.

(f)Following the successful completion of the theoretical training, the practical part of the training to be provided should take into account the individual needs of the trainees, and should include the practical application of the theoretical training. After the completion of the practical training, a competency assessment should take place (see AMC1 ADR.OR.D.017(e)).

PAVEMENTS AND ADJACENT GROUND SURFACES INSPECTION

(a)Paved Areas Inspection The following should be observed during an inspection of paved areas:

(1)general cleanliness with particular attention to material which could cause engine ingestion damage. This may include debris from runway maintenance operations, or excessive grit remaining after runway gritting;

(2)presence of contaminants such as snow, slush, ice, wet ice, wet snow on ice or frost, water, anti-icing or de-icing chemicals, mud, dust, sand, volcanic ash, oil, rubber deposits which may impair the runway surface friction characteristics; particular attention should be given to the simultaneous presence of snow, slush, ice, wet ice, wet snow on ice with anti-icing or de-icing chemicals;

(3)signs of damage to the pavement surface including cracking and spall of concrete, condition of joint sealing, cracking and looseness of aggregate in asphalt surfaces, or break-up of friction courses;

(4)after rain, flooded areas should be identified and marked, if possible, to facilitate later resurfacing;

(5)damage of light fittings;

(6)cleanliness of runway markings;

(7)the condition and fit of pit covers; and

(8)the extremities of the runway should be inspected for early touchdown marks; blast damage to approach lights, marker cones and threshold lights; cleanliness and obstacles in the runway end safety area.

(b)Adjacent ground surfaces inspection The following may be observed during the inspection:

(1)the general state of ground cover vegetation ensuring, in particular, that excessive length is not obscuring lights, signs, markers, etc.;

(2)any developing depressions should be noted and plotted;

(3)any unreported aircraft wheel tracks should be carefully plotted and reported;

(4)the condition of signs and markers;

(5)the general bearing strength of grass areas, particularly those close to aircraft pavement surface;

(6)waterlogged grass areas; and

(7)FOD and wildlife.

OBSTACLES

(a)All authorised obstacles should be checked for proper lighting and marking.

(b)Any unauthorised obstacles should be reported to the designated persons or organisations immediately.

INSPECTION LOG The inspection log should include:

(a)details of inspection intervals and times;

(b)names of persons carrying out the inspection; and

(c)results and observations, if any.

FOLLOW-UP OF INSPECTIONS Arrangements should exist for reporting the results of inspections, and for taking prompt follow-up actions to ensure correction of unsafe conditions. These arrangements could include, depending on the result or observation, notification to air traffic services and aeronautical information services, removal of FODs, wildlife control, recording of events for further analysis according to the aerodrome operator’s SMS requirements, etc.

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS FOR MOVEMENT AREA INSPECTIONS

(a)Inspectors should use checklists covering the various inspection areas. A sketch of the aerodrome should accompany the checklist so that the location of problems can be marked for easy identification.

(b)Inspectors should review the most recently completed checklist from the previous inspection cycle prior to beginning the inspection.

(c)If construction or works are in progress, inspectors should be familiar with the safety plan of the construction or works.

RECURRENT, REFRESHER AND CONTINUATION TRAINING ADR.OR.D.017 point (f) regulates the provision of training following the completion of the initial training, as part of the aerodrome operator’s training programme. For the process that needs to be followed to ensure the continued competence of the personnel, see ADR.OR.D.017(f) and AMC1 ADR.OR.D.017(f).