1.1 Defence aerodromes are used for the arrival, departure and surface movement of both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. Whilst inadequate aerodrome design has no impact on aircraft airworthiness, it can have a direct and substantial impact on safe flight operations. Consequently, Defence aerodromes are an integral part of the Defence Aviation Safety Program (DASP) and are managed under the Defence Aviation Safety Regulations (DASR). Defence aims to ensure that the design of Defence aerodromes aligns with reputable standards, supplemented for the Defence context. This provides a robust basis for certification of Defence aerodromes and assists Defence in meeting WHS obligations relating to aviation safety.
1.2 This section is divided into the following chapters:
Chapter 1. This chapter establishes the context to support the understanding of the aerodrome design requirements detailed in each of the remaining chapters of this section.
Chapter 2. This chapter details the design requirements for land based aerodromes intended primarily for use by fixed wing aircraft.
Chapter 3. This chapter details the design requirements for land based heliports.
Chapter 4. This chapter details the design requirements for shipborne heliports.
1.3 As discussed in Section 1 Chapter 1, the Authority has recognised a suite of baseline design requirements for the safe design of Defence aircraft. The Authority follows a similar approach for Defence aerodromes, and recognises a suite of baseline aerodrome design standards that provide a sound foundation for safe flight operations of aircraft at Defence aerodromes. These baseline aerodrome design standards are prescribed by an appropriate authority that is determined to reflect international good practice, are integrated, are internally consistent and are kept up-to-date by the sponsoring authority. The baseline aerodrome design standards provide the starting point for sourcing specific aerodrome design requirements.
1.4 The baseline aerodrome design standard for land based aerodromes and land based heliports are:
Land based aerodromes. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Part 139 (Aerodromes) Manual of Standards 2019 (MOS Part 139) (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 2013, inclusive of amendments 6, 7 and 8 – Nov 2018).
1.5 Several different baseline aerodrome standards were used for shipborne heliports. These standards were selected and supplemented by the Authority, where needed, to develop the Australian Defence Force Maritime Materiel Requirements Set - DEF (AUST) 5000 - Volume 11 Ship Aviation Requirements (November 2017) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
1.6 The baseline aerodrome standards adopted for Defence aerodrome certification comprise of a variety of design requirements and related matters, some of which are not within scope of this section. This section only provides aerodrome design requirements for physical design elements rather than design processes, maintenance requirements and operational requirements. Further, design elements are only included within this section where their design requirements form effective treatments to aerodrome-related aviation safety risks. The design elements used in this section, for both fixed wing and rotary wing operations, are listed in Annex A.
1.7 Where required, the Authority varies or prescribes supplementation to the baseline design standards for specific aerodrome design elements. The variation or supplementation is made to specifically address situations where:
the baseline standard is silent on specific design elements needed for Defence aerodromes, such as military-specific aerodrome design requirements.
the baseline standard provides requirements for a specific aerodrome design element, but Defence experience has unequivocally demonstrated that these aerodrome design requirements need to be varied or supplemented when applied to Defence aerodromes.
the baseline standard requirements need to be supplemented by mandatory Australian legislative design requirements, such as for electrical wiring.
1.8 Variation or supplementation is only made where there is no conflict with the baseline standard requirements for other design elements (given that the baseline standard comprises an integrated set of requirements).
1.9 In the context of airworthiness design requirements, Section 1 Chapter 1 distinguishes between ‘essential’ and ‘recommended’ design requirements. While ‘essential’ design requirements are well defined in safety legislation and Defence policy and/or operational regulation requirements, ‘recommend’ design requirements represent ‘good practice’ that is not yet widely accepted/implemented. In the aerodrome context, all design requirements prescribed in this section are considered to fall into the ‘essential’ category. Nevertheless, many of the requirements only apply in specific circumstances, so many aerodromes will never be required to contain all the design features described in the baseline aerodrome design standards. The set of applicable aerodrome design requirements for a given Defence aerodrome, must be agreed to by the Authority as part of an aerodrome certification program.
1.10 The aerodrome design requirements detailed in Chapters 2, 3 and 4 of this section apply to those Defence aerodromes which require Defence certification in accordance with DASR.139 - Aerodromes. The design requirements may be applied to other Defence aerodromes, as a treatment for those assessed risks that warrant more rigorous design requirements.
1.11 Whilst the following chapters in this section provide aviation safety-related aerodrome design requirements, they do not include non-aviation safety-related design requirements necessary for Defence capability, standardisation and interoperability with other defence forces.
1.12 For land based aerodromes and land based heliports, these requirements are detailed in various documents sponsored by the Directorate of Estate Engineering Policy (DEEP) within E&IG’s Estate Engineering Governance and Integrity System (EEGIS). Collectively, the EEGIS documents are the repository for Defence’s corporate solution to the design of land based aerodromes and land based heliports, documenting all the requirements necessary for Defence aerodromes to be operated safely and efficiently, and to allow effective force projection. For those design requirements relevant to aviation safety, the EEGIS documents refer to this section of the DASDRM.
1.13 For shipborne heliports, the non-aviation safety-related requirements are captured within the same document as the aviation safety-related aerodrome design requirements, that is, the DEF (AUST) 5000 - Volume 11 Ship Aviation Requirements (November 2017).
1.14 An aerodrome Certification Basis (CB) is required for each aerodrome requiring certification. While Defence’s collective aerodrome design requirements comprise both those related to aviation safety (prescribed in this section) and those related to capability/interoperability (documented in the EEGIS), the aerodrome CB will only comprise of those design requirements necessary to demonstrate that the aerodrome can support safe flight operations; i.e. applicable requirements prescribed by the Authority in this section. Assessment of the design for the issue of an Aerodrome Certificate will only be performed against the requirements of the aerodrome CB.
1.15 The recognised baseline standards used in this section, occasionally identify a requirement to engage with designated authorities or other organisations. Where such a requirement is identified, except where expressly detailed in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 of this section, readers are to engage with the DASA.