A14: AERODROMES, PART II - EBOOK

A distinction of Annex 14 is the broad range of subjects it contains. It extends from the planning of airports and heliports to such details as switch-over times for secondary power supply; from civil engineering to illumination engineering; from provision of sophisticated rescue and fire fighting equipment to simple requirements for keeping airports clear of birds. The impact of these numerous subjects on the Annex is compounded by the rapidly changing industry which airports must support. New aircraft models, increased aircraft operations, operations in lower visibilities and technological advances in airport equipment combine to make Annex 14 one of the most rapidly changing Annexes. In 1990, after 39 amendments the Annex was split into two volumes, Volume I dealing with aerodrome design and operations and Volume II dealing with heliport design.

Provisions for heliports are included in Volume II of Annex 14. These specifications complement those in Volume I which, in some cases, are also applicable to heliports. The provisions address the physical characteristics and obstacle limitation surfaces required for helicopter operations from surface level and elevated on-shore heliports and helidecks, under both visual and instrument meteorological conditions. Material dealing with the marking and lighting of heliports, as well as rescue and fire fighting requirements for heliports, also have been included in Volume II. Although specifications on marking and lighting of heliports are only applicable to operations in visual meteorological conditions, work is under way on the development of appropriate visual aids for helicopter operations in instrument meteorological conditions.