Airfield Inspections and Compliance Surveys

• Location: UK and International
• Client: Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
• Partners: Red Scientific
• Year: Ongoing
• Sector: Buildings |
• Specialisms: Airside | Asset Management | Civil Engineering | Surveying |

Partnering Red Scientific, Pell Frischmann was awarded three contracts by DIO, utilising our international expertise in Surveying and Civil Engineering. Two contracts for Biennial Airfield Inspections included providing planning and technical data to maintain the airfield pavements and aeronautical ground lighting for safe aircraft operations at 17 Defence Airfields in the UK and Gibraltar. The third contract included the annual Aerodrome Aeronautical Information Surveys (Measured Height Surveys) for CAP232 and CAP1732 compliance at 26 airfields in Brunei, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands and the UK.

What we are doing

The Biennial contracts involved airside inspections of the pavements and visual landing. The pavement inspections identified types and locations of pavement distress, delethalisation of objects, surface drainage inspections and pavement marking compliance.

The visual aids inspection covered all fixed, portable or temporary visual aids equipment, and control systems, including supporting infrastructure and facilities for visual aids operation and control. Our engineering teams inspected and commented on the physical condition, structural and electro-mechanical integrity of equipment, installation and associated facilities or infrastructure. Existing documentation relating to both the quantitative and the qualitative aspects of equipment maintenance was reviewed.

The Aerodrome Aeronautical Information Surveys contract required access airside to measure the height of objects, to verify if any penetrated the obstacle limitation surfaces as defined in CAP168, CAP232 and CAP1732. The survey extended beyond the airfield boundary to cover the approach, take-off, transition and circling surfaces up to 50km from the airfield.

Outcomes so far

The airfield inspections deliver clear dashboards to our client, indicating condition, life expectancy and any minor maintenance based on a standard RAG rating system. This dashboard is supported by a full report with accompanying CAD plans and separate costs identified for those works that are recommended to be carried out within 0 – 3 years, between 4 – 6 years, and long-term between 7 – 10 years.

The aerodrome aeronautical information surveys contract, delivered a full report of obstacle locations, heights and penetrations to limitation surfaces in accordance with either CAP232 or CAP1732, depending upon the airfield characteristics. All the data files were CRC wrapped for cyber security and issued to NATS. Plans were supplied for all obstacle limitation surfaces and an additional Type A chart. As part of the site work, the team also undertook PAPI calibration checks.

All airfields were clear to operate for a further 12 months.

We’d love to hear from you!

To find out more about our compliance surveys, please contact us through our form here.