GfL delivers safety assessment concerning penetrations of obstacle protection surfaces of PAPI and approach lighting system at Airport Nuremberg
June 2017 | Safety Assessment
In the vicinity of the international airport of Nuremberg exist extensive forest areas. Because of their growth, several trees within these areas evolve into air traffic obstacles. In this respect it was found that the specific obstacle protection surfaces of the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) as well as the Precision Approach Lighting System according to EASA CS ADR DSN are partially penetrated by single or even groves of trees. These circumstances can lead to the hazard of limited visibility for cockpit crews on these lighting systems during approach. Subsequently the system’s basic functions resp. safety objectives (e.g. visual guidance for the aircraft’s alignment until touchdown) cannot be met. Within the scope of the safety assessment flight operational risks resulting from the lighting systems’ shadowing were examined. At first potential shadowing areas were identified taking into account the published approach angles at Nuremberg airport. Afterwards statistical analyses of flight trajectories based on radar data were conducted in order to quantify probabilities of aircraft flying into these shadowing areas. In consideration of possible damage severities concerning the hazard mentioned above risks were finally determined and assessed by using standardized procedures.
