Annex 14 vs. OAS (4)

25.10.2004

Submission:

The reasons for the variations in the surfaces do not matter. The important issues for a UK resident designer are the following:

1. Have I used an appropriate standard for the development and documented the reasons why that standard is appropriate?

2. Have I done a hazard identification and taken it through to hazard analysis for the obstacle in question?

3. Have I risk criteria set by the client associated with the acceptable collision probability between the objects and an aircraft

4. Have I developed a procedure that can be demonstrated as having being subjected to a risk optimisation exercise.

The basic answer to your question is rather more complex than a simple use this/use that selection of surfaces. If you do not go through this process then, as a UK designer, in the event of an accident you could be considered for prosecution under corporate manslaughter legislation. This will become more prevalent with the new proposed corporate killing legislation. It is relatively easy to convict a small company, as the "controlling mind" test is the one person. The client would also have some degree of negligence in accepting your answer.

The more specific answers to your question fall into the following routine:

1. see and avoid does not work if it is a CAT II approach for this particular obstacle collision and so the item falls outside the CRM calculated probability values

2. you must consider the distance eaten up in the case of a balked landing

3. you must consider the engine out go around case (and not just leave it to the operators)

4. you must write up the following answer in a safety argument format for the regulatory approval process

The go around will be to track the localiser signal until the aircraft has crossed over the stop end threshold of the runway, then the turn can commence. This does away with a lot of the surface restrictions and is an acceptable solution that will keep you out of jail.



David Gleave

Chief ATC Safety Investigator Aviation Hazard Analysis (UK)