Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority :: OBSTACLE EVALUATION & PROCEDURES

Constant and vigilant assessment of all existing and proposed structures within and outside an airport boundary is critical to the safe and efficient use of an aerodrome. It is as important as the physical requirements of runways and their associated strips.

When buildings encroach on the airspace needed for aircraft operations, a conflict of interest arises between property owners and airport operators. If these differences cannot be resolved, it may be necessary for the national authority to establish restrictions limiting operations in the interest of safety.

If tall structures are erected in or near areas otherwise suitable for instrument approach procedures, such structures may limit the desired flexibility for radar vectoring, initial approaches and the facility for an aircraft to turn en route during the departure climb or missed approach.

Control of obstacles in the vicinity of airports is therefore a matter of interest and concern to national government, local communities, property owners and airport authorities. The Jamaican government, through the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority has the authority to establish criteria for the limitation of obstacles and to provide guidelines to those directly concerned with plans to erect tall structures.

With the advent of the cellular telephone industry in Jamaica there is an ever increasing demand for construction of antennae towers. Construction proposals for these towers must be evaluated and monitored constantly to allow for the safe and efficient use of aerodromes and navigable airspace.

Natural features and man-made construction inside and outside boundaries may considerably influence the effective utilization of an aerodrome. These may result in limitations on the distance available for take-off and landing and the range of meteorological condition in which take-off and landing can be undertaken. The significance of any existing or proposed objects within the aerodrome boundary or in the vicinity of the aerodrome is assessed by the use of two separate sets of criteria defining airspace requirement. These are:

Obstacle limiting surfaces particular to a runway (Chapter 4 Annex 14-Aerodromes)
PANS-OPS Surfaces (DOC 8168).

KINDS OF OBJECTS AFFECTED

This applies to:

Any object of natural growth, terrain, or permanent or temporary construction or alteration, including equipment or materials used therein, and apparatus of a permanent or temporary character; and
Alteration of any permanent or temporary existing structure by a change in its height (including appurtenances), or lateral dimensions, including equipment or materials used therein.

CONSTRUCTION OR ALTERATION REQUIRING NOTICE

The JCAA requires each person proposing any kind of construction or alteration of more than 30M (98.4 feet) to give adequate notice specifying the location and dimension of the construction or alteration.

Each person must send one executed form, Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration, to the JCAA’s Director,Air Navigation Services, or the Procedures Specialist .The notice required must be submitted at least 30 days before the earlier of the following dates:

The date the proposed construction or alteration is to begin.

The date an application for a construction permit is to be filed.

The notice received under this subpart provides a basis for:

Evaluating the effect of the construction or alteration on operational procedures and proposed operational procedures.
Determinations of the possible hazardous effect of the proposed construction or alteration on air navigation.
Determining other appropriate measures to be applied for continued safety of air navigation.
Charting, and other notification to airmen of the construction or alteration.

THE COST OF EACH STUDY IS J$5000.00

See Related Diagram

EXAMPLE OF 100 TO 1 SLOPE

Distance from nearest point on runway	Height of Surface
1000m	10m
2000m	20m
3000m	30m

A 2% slope for a horizontal distance of 1500 meter (4921 feet) from the nearest point of the nearest runway of Boscobel, Ken Jones, Negril, and Tinson Pen Airport.

Distance from nearest point on runway	Height of Surface
250m	5m
500m	10m
750m	15m
1000m	20m
1250m	25m
1500m	30m

A 4% slope for a horizontal distance of 750 meters (2,460 feet) from the nearest point of the nearest landing and takeoff area of each heliports.

Any construction or alterations that would be in an instrument approach area, an en route obstacle clearance area, including turns and termination areas of an airway or approved off airway route, that would increase the minimum obstacle clearance altitude.

See related Diagram

EXAMPLES OF WHEN NOTICE / NO NOTICE IS REQUIRED

CONSTRUCTION OR ALTERATION NOT REQUIRING NOTICE

No person is required to notify the CAA for any of the following construction or alteration:

Any object that would be shielded by existing structures of a permanent and substantial character or by natural terrain or topographic features of equal or greater height, and would be located in the congested area of a city, town, or settlement where it is evident beyond all reasonable doubt that the structure so shielded will not adversely affect safety in air navigation.

Any antenna structure of 6 meter or less in height except one that would increase the height of another antenna structure.

Any air navigation facility, airport visual approach or landing aid, aircraft arresting device, or meteorological device, of a type approved by the CAA, the location and height of which is fixed by its functional purpose.

Special Cases

A proposed structure or an alteration to an existing structure that exceeds 609m (2,000 feet) in height above the ground will be presumed to be a hazard to air navigation and to result in an inefficient utilization of airspace and the applicant has the burden of overcoming that presumption.

Each notice submitted under the pertinent provisions, proposing a structure in excess of 609m(2,000 feet) above ground, or an alteration that will make an existing structure exceed that height, must contain a detailed showing, directed to meeting this burden.

Only in exceptional cases, where the CAA concludes that a clear and compelling showing has been made that it would not result in an inefficient utilization of the airspace and would not result in a hazard to air navigation, will a determination of no hazard be issued.

Notification and Acknowledgement

Each person who is required to notify the CAA, shall send an executed copy of Notice of Progress of Construction or Alteration (Form ANAVD 0007), to 4 Winchester Road, Kingston 10.