FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION RELEASES ADVISORY CIRCULAR ON CRITICAL AIRCRAFT AND REGULAR USE DETERMINATION
On June 20, 2017, the FAA issued an AC on Critical Aircraft and Regular Use Determination.
Purpose. This AC provides definition and guidance on the use of Critical Aircraft in facility planning and design studies, and related FAA decision making, for federally obligated airports. It establishes a common, uniform definition of Critical Aircraft for all deliberations of the FAA Office of Airports, inclusive of planning and environmental, design and engineering, and financial decision making regarding airport development. It sets dimensional requirements on an airport, such as the separation distance between taxiways and runways, and the size of certain areas protecting the safety of aircraft operations and passengers.
This AC also provides clarification on when the Critical Aircraft determination includes civilian owned aircraft under military or other government agency contracts and when a Critical Aircraft determination may include military aircraft activity. It also defines the term “Regular Use” which replaces the term “Substantial Use.”
Application and Use. This definition of Critical Aircraft will be used in place of all previous definitions of Critical Aircraft or substantial use found in the following documents: FAA Order 5090.3C, Field Formulation of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) Paragraph 3-4, AC 150/5070-6B, Airport Master Plans Appendix A, AC 150/3500-13A, Airport Design Paragraph 102.ff, AC 150/5325-4B, Runway Length Requirements for Airport Design Paragraph 102.a(2) and a(8).
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Shelley Ewalt.
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