Advisory Circulars

Contains the FAA specifications for unlighted and lighted signs to be used on taxiways and runways. See also Engineering Brief 67: Light Sources Other than Incandescent and Xenon for Airport and Obstruction Lighting Fixtures.

Contains the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specifications for series to series isolation transformers for use in airport lighting systems.

Provides guidance for using the standardized International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) method, called the Aircraft Classification Number – Pavement Classification Number (ACN-PCN) method, to report airport runway, taxiway, and apron pavement strength. Includes instructions for using the COMFAA program to calculate ACN values to determine PCN.

Also provides guidance for reporting changes to airport data that is generally published on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Form 5010, Airport Master Record, particularly those data elements associated with Gross Weight (Data Elements 35 through 38) and Pavement Classification Number (Data Element 39).

Access COMFAA and related Support Spreadsheet on our Airport Design Software page.

Contains the FAA standards for markings used on airport runways, taxiways, and aprons. This AC cancels the Signs and Marking Supplement (SAMS).

This document is consolidated to include Change 1, dated November 17, 2010.

Contains standards for the siting and installation of signs on airport runways and taxiways, including taxiway ending markers, location signs, runway distance remaining signs, mandatory hold signs associated with POFZ and CAT II/III operations, and many others.

Provides standards for the construction of airports. Items covered in this AC include general provisions, earthwork, flexible base courses, rigid base courses, flexible surface courses, rigid pavement, fencing, drainage, turfing, and lighting installation.

Access related Pay Reduction Spreadsheets on our Airport Design Software page.

Provides guidance on the use of remote sensing technologies in the collection of data describing the physical infrastructure of an airport. This version is a substantial rewrite and includes new sections on remote sensing technologies other than aerial imagery (primarily LIDAR) for collecting airport data. See also the Airports GIS website.

Provides guidelines on providing airport data to the FAA  using FAA Forms 5010-3 and 5010-5.

See also Form 5010-3 and Form 5010-5.

Provides guidance for engineers, airport managers, and the public in the design and maintenance of airport surface drainage systems. Combines existing surface drainage topics covered in different agency manuals into one Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) document that will serve as the design and analysis standard for surface drainage for FAA and the Department of Defense. Consolidated file contains Change 1.

The AC is 12.7 MB (see Complete file). Because of its size, the AC has been broken into several parts to make it easier to download (see Parts 1-13).

Focuses on nondestructive testing (NDT) equipment that measures pavement surface deflections after applying a static or dynamic load to the pavement. It also briefly introduces other types of nondestructive measuring equipment to illustrate how supplementing NDT data with other test data may improve the quality and reliability of the pavement evaluation. This version updates Chapter 8, NDT-Based Evaluation and Design Updates, to reflect the requirements of the pavement design program FAARFIELD rather than the previous design program LEDFAA.

See also Airport Design Software.

Provides FAA standards and recommendations for the training of airport firefighting and rescue personnel in the proper operation and tactical use of Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles and ARFF vehicles equipped with High Reach Extendable Turret (HRETs). This guidance includes the development of department Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) and the development of department proficiency evaluation standards.

Contains FAA standards and recommendations for the installations of aircraft arresting systems on civil airports not owned or operated by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). This AC does not describe Engineered Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS). For guidance on EMAS, see AC 150/5220-22, Engineered Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS) for Aircraft Overruns.

Contains specifications and guidance for the storage, handling, and dispensing of aviation fuel on airports. Additionally, this AC provides standards and guidance for the training of personnel who conduct these activities.

Please see the associated Addendum for a list of companies offering courses of instruction in line service training as well as supervisory training that are acceptable to the Administrator. We will update the Addendum on a quarterly basis.

Contains references to the minimum requirements for the selection and performance of aircraft rescue and firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE), self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and powered rescue tools. Designed to assist airport management in the development of local procurement specifications for airport fire departments.

Provides guidance to assist airport operators in preparing for Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) communications.

Provides guidance to the airport operator in the development and implementation of an Airport Emergency Plan (AEP). The AEP addresses essential emergency related and deliberate actions planned to ensure the safety of and emergency services for the airport populace and the community in which the airport is located.

Consolidated file includes Change 2 dated 11/3/2010. Change 2 updates the date by which AEPs must be submitted to June 30, 2011.

Provides guidance for developing and managing an airport foreign object debris (FOD) program.  In addition, this AC provides specifications for the equipment used in FOD removal operations.

The described program addresses prevention, detection, removal, and evaluation as well as strategies and practices that can help reduce FOD at airports. The guidelines presented in this AC are advisory and can be implemented at the discretion of the airport operator in accordance with the airport operator’s approved Airport Certification Manual.

This AC cancels AC 150/5380-5B, Debris Hazards at Civil Airports, dated July 5, 1996.

Provides guidance to assist airport operators in preparing for water rescue operations.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance to assist airport operators in developing a snow and ice control plan, conducting and reporting runway friction surveys, and establishing snow removal and control procedures. Version B of this AC cancelled AC 150/5220-13B, Runway Surface Condition Sensor Specification Guide, dated March 27, 1991. Consolidated file contains Change 1.

See also Notice to Manufacturers of Airport In-Pavement Stationary Runway Weather Information Systems about AIP Buy American Requirement (10/28/2011). The FAA is requesting information to determine if waivers to this requirement are needed.