Series 150 Advisory Circulars (ACs) for Airport Projects

Provides recommended guidelines for maintenance of airport visual aid facilities, including Runway Status Lights (RWSL) Systems, rotating beacons, lighted wind cone assemblies, runway and taxiway guidance signs, Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) Systems, Visual Approach Slope Indicators (VASIs), Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs), Medium Approach Lighting Systems (MALS, MALSF, MALSR), Hazard Beacons And Obstruction Lights, and Airport Lighting Control And Monitoring Systems (ALCMS).

Provides standards for the design of heliports serving helicopters with single rotors. Basic concepts can also be applied to facilities serving helicopters with tandem (front and rear) or dual (side by side) rotors; although many standards will not apply to these facilities.

This version adds guidance for pavement or structure larger than the touchdown and liftoff area (TLOF), but less than the size of the final approach and take off (FATO); turbulence effects; clearance between parking areas and taxi routes and within parking areas; minimum dimensions of curved approach/departure airspace; Touchdown/Positioning Circle (TDPC) Marking; Flight Path Alignment Guidance markings and lights; Emergency Helicopter Landing Facility Requirements (EHLF); FATO to FATO separation distance for simultaneous operations; revised standards for size of “H” for general aviation heliports; increased TLOF size when the FATO of a hospital heliport is not load bearing; and Heliport Protection Zone (HPZ) for hospital heliports. See "Principal Changes" for a complete list.

Provides guidelines and procedures for measuring and evaluating runway roughness as identified by surface profile data of rigid and flexible airport pavements. Provides technical procedures to quantify surface irregularities and to determine how surface irregularities may affect specific categories of airplanes.

Provides airport sponsors with guidance on filing FAA Form 5100-126, Financial Governmental Payment Report, and FAA Form 5100-127, Operating and Financial Summary. Announces changes to the FAA's financial reporting program and to Form 5100-127.

See also Airport Financial Reporting Program.

Provides an interactive specification that airports can use in procuring Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles. It describes the selection process, vehicle requirements, and how to produce formal specifications.

Provides the specifications for the collection of airport data for the FAA Airport Surveying – Geographic Information System (GIS) Program. Also explains how to submit data to the FAA, which will forward the safety critical data to the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) for independent verification and validation. The standards covered in this document provide critical information for the operation and safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) and are classified as critical by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO Annex 15 defines data as critical when “there is a high probability when using corrupted critical data that the continued safe flight and landing of an aircraft would be severely at risk with the potential for catastrophe.” The information furnished under these standards covers the entire spectrum of the FAA’s airport data requirements. See also FAA Airport Surveying - GIS Program and Airports GIS Video Training Series.

Explains the specifications for establishing geodetic control on or near an airport. It also describes how to submit the information to the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) for approval and inclusion in the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) in support of aeronautical information surveys. See also Airports GIS Video Training Series.

Contains specifications for the frangible connections used to support objects located in airfield safety areas, including fuse bolts, special material bolts, frangible couplings, tear-through fasteners, and tear-out sections.

This AC is based on the performance standards, specifications, and recommendations contained in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Aerodrome Design Manual, Part 6, Frangibility, and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Engineering Technical Letter (ETL) 01-20: Guidelines for Airfield Frangibility Zones.

Provides information that airports can use to procure foreign object debris (FOD) detection equipment. Contains minimum performance specifications for systems and equipment that detect foreign objects on airports, including stationary radar, stationary electro-optical, stationary hybrid radar and electro-optical, and mobile radar.

See also Buy American Preferences to view:

• Notice of Decision to Issue Buy American Waivers for Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection Equipment (11/28/2010)
• Notice to Manufacturers of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection Equipment (8/5/2010)
• Waiver request process

Furnishes general guidance for airport employees, airport management, and other personnel responsible for aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) operations at the scene of an aircraft accident on the proper preservation of evidence.  It explains the need for preservation of evidence and details operational actions which may be permitted if performed in the interest of preserving life.

This AC explains to public airport sponsors and other interested parties the Federal Surplus Personal Property Program for Public Airports.  It contains the procedures for applying for screener credentials and to request authorized surplus personal property through the GSAXcess system administered by the General Services Administration (GSA) for disposition of federal surplus personal property.

Contains standards for the planning, design, installation, and maintenance of Engineered Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS) in runway safety areas (RSAs).