For Defence aerodromes, the DASA is responsible for establishing the initial safety requirements. These aviation safety requirements are prescribed within Section 6 of DASA’s Defence Aviation Safety Design Requirements Manual (DASDRM) and are to be used when designing Defence certified aerodromes.
DASA will identify a primary design standard, which represents international or domestic ‘good practice’ for aerodrome design and is an integrated requirement set, internally consistent and kept up-to-date by the sponsoring authority. The DASDRM aerodrome requirements leverage heavily, where possible, on a primary design standard that has been identified as domestic or international ‘good practice’ for aerodrome design, are an integrated requirement set, internally consistent and kept up-to-date by the sponsoring authority. These primary standards provide a sound foundation for aerodrome design, however due to Defences unique military role and environment, the DASDRM adapts the primary design standard through supplementation or tailoring. This may be needed where the primary design standard:
is silent on specific design elements needed for Defence aerodromes, such as military-specific capability requirements;
does include requirements for a particular design element, but Defence experience has shown it needs to be varied for the Defence operational context; and/or
is not entirely compatible with mandatory Australian legislative design requirements, for example electrical wiring.
The DASA prescribe design requirements in support of safe flight operations. Non-aviation safety-related design requirements necessary for Defence capability, standardisation and interoperability with other defence forces are not included.
Figure 1: Defence Aviation Safety Design Requirements Manual (DASDRM)
The DASDRM design requirements provide the starting point for developing the aerodrome certification basis – the requirements for which the aerodrome is to comply with to achieve certification. The DASDRM aims to cater for most Defence capability needs, although supplementation or tailoring may be needed for niche capabilities on an aerodrome.
Aerodrome design requirements are identified in Defence Aviation Safety Design Requirements Manual DASDRM), Section 6 as follows:
|
Aerodrome Type |
Applicable DASDRM Chapter |
Primary (Aerodrome) Design Standard |
|
Land based aerodromes |
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Part 139 (Aerodromes) Manual of Standards 2019 (Part 139 MOS) (September 2019), including the MOS Part 139H - Standards Applicable to the Provision of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (MOS Part 139H) (January 2005). |
|
|
Land based heliports |
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 14 Aerodromes Volume 2 Heliports (July 2020); and |
|
|
Shipborne heliports |
Australian Defence Force Maritime Materiel Requirements Set - DEF (AUST) 5000 - Volume 11 Ship Aviation Requirements (November 2017) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). |
Table 1: Aerodrome Requirements as per DASDRM
Systems and functions covered by the design requirements include:
physical characteristics of movement facilities
aircraft arresting systems, and recovery assist systems for shipborne heliports
obstacle restrictions and limitations
visual aids provided by aerodrome markings, markers, signals, wind direction indicators, and so on
visual aids provided by aerodrome lighting
Communication, Navigation, Surveillance (CNS) and Meteorological (MET) facilities
earthing points
aircraft tie-down facilities
radio communication facilities
Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) requirements.
DASA prescribes design requirements for aerodrome systems and functions that are necessary to support safe flight at Defence aerodromes. The design requirements are within the DASDRM Section 6.
Design requirements are separately prescribed for Defence aerodromes primarily used for fixed wing operations, land based heliports and shipborne heliports. DASA provides advice on interpreting the design requirements.