A Crane NOTAM, a Chart Gap and a Runway Closure
At 0500 UTC, the JKIA aerodrome control supervisor receives a call from the engineering department: a 250 ft AGL crane will be erected at 2.5 NM from the runway 06 threshold, 400 m left of the extended centreline, from 0600 UTC today until 1800 UTC in three days. A NOTAM has been drafted as A0876/25 with Q-line QMRLC, but the AIP AD 2 JKIA chart still shows no obstacle. A separate NOTAM A0875/25 says runway 06/24 will be closed 0600-0800 UTC today for sweeping. An inbound B738 is 40 NM out and the tower asks you whether to pass the crane to the crew. You are the AIM officer on duty.
1. Is the draft NOTAM adequate? What checks and changes are required before issue?
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The draft is not adequate as written. A generic QMRLC Q-line does not describe a crane obstacle in the approach area; the Q-code must reflect the obstacle and its effect on the approach, and the text must state crane height 250 ft AGL, distance 2.5 NM from the runway 06 threshold, 400 m left of the extended centreline, and the effective period 0600 UTC today to 1800 UTC in three days. Check the coordinates or radius, lower and upper limits, estimated time, and whether the crane affects instrument approach minima or declared distances. Because it is a temporary three-day obstacle, a NOTAM is appropriate rather than an AIP amendment, but it must be issued immediately and passed to ATC and the briefing office. Cross-check existing NOTAMs for duplication and ensure the Q-line, text and validity are consistent.
2. How do you handle the AIP chart discrepancy and the pre-flight information bulletin?
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Do not hand-amend the AIP chart for a three-day crane. Issue the NOTAM and ensure the PIB includes both A0876/25 and the runway closure A0875/25. Brief ATC and operators that the chart is not yet updated and that the NOTAM is the controlling information. If the crane later becomes permanent or changes approach minima, initiate an AIP amendment or supplement and a trigger NOTAM for the chart change. For the current operation, the PIB must be current at the time of briefing; if the crane NOTAM is issued after a crew has already received its PIB, use direct ATC transmission and company notification to ensure the crew is aware. Record the chart discrepancy so it is corrected in the next AIP cycle.
3. What do you tell ATC about the inbound B738 and about the runway closure NOTAM?
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Tell the tower and approach controller: crane 250 ft AGL, 2.5 NM from the runway 06 threshold, 400 m left of the extended centreline, active 0600-1800 UTC for three days; pass it to the B738 as essential traffic information and include it in the PIB. For the closure, A0875/25 is valid 0600-0800 UTC today, so the runway is not available for the B738 if it arrives within that window; ATC must plan a hold or diversion and not treat the crane NOTAM as cancelling the closure. Both NOTAMs can be valid at the same time. If the sweeping finishes early, the closure NOTAM must be cancelled by the responsible office, and the crane NOTAM remains in force until 1800 UTC in three days or until cancelled on completion.