Aerodromes, Ground Operations and Licensing of Aerodromes
Licensing and standards
Public-use aerodromes in Pakistan require a licence from PCAA, granted after assessment against Annex 14 and the aerodrome CARs. The aerodrome manual, SMS, emergency plan, wildlife-hazard management and obstacle-limitation surfaces are core certification items.
Core concepts
- Aerodrome reference code: a number (1-4) for runway length and a letter (A-F) for wingspan and wheelbase.
- Declared distances: TORA is the take-off run available; TODA adds clearway; ASDA adds stopway; LDA is the landing distance available, reduced by a displaced threshold.
- Runway end safety area: at least 90 m for code 3 and 4 runways, 60 m for code 1 and 2, with a width at least twice the runway width.
- Rescue and firefighting category is set by the largest aircraft using the aerodrome, based on length and fuselage width; a downgrade needs published procedures.
- Ground operations include marshalling, apron safety, FOD control, jet-blast protection, refuelling precautions and low-visibility procedures.
Worked example
A 3,000 m runway has a threshold displaced 200 m, a 60 m stopway and a 150 m clearway. TORA is 3,000 m, TODA 3,150 m, ASDA 3,060 m and LDA 2,800 m. The displaced threshold reduces landing distance, not take-off distance.
Traps
TORA and LDA are not interchangeable; a displaced threshold does not shorten TORA; and an RFF downgrade requires notification, not just a local decision.