ArcMap

FAA 18B

Summary

Creates obstruction identification surfaces based on the FAA 18B specification. These surfaces describe airspaces that should be free of obstructions. Surfaces are used to support planning and design activities. The type, function, and dimension of a surface differ by runway classification. This tool creates surfaces as polygon or multipatch features or triangulated irregular networks (TINs).

Usage

  • The Input Runway Features parameter must be z-enabled.

  • The selection you make in Runway Classification will automatically populate most of the surface parameters.

  • When Runway Classification is set to Vertical Guidance, the output transitional surface will be split into four sections by a line perpendicular to the runway centerline. This does not apply when Output Features is set to TIN.

  • When Runway Classification is set to Vertical Guidance, the output conical and horizontal surfaces will be split into sections by a meridian and a parallel. The meridian intersects the Airport Elevation Point and the center point of the runway centerline. The parallel runs perpendicular to the meridian through the center point of the runway centerline. This does not apply when Output Feature Class is set to TIN.

  • This tool creates the OIS in an existing polygon or multipatch feature class. It can also be generated as a new TIN or polygon shapefile. If a feature class is selected for Output Features, it must have a vertical spatial reference.

  • When this tool is run as a stand-alone Python script, horizontal and conical surfaces are not split. This is because the runway centerline cannot be analyzed to find the airport control points, which are used to split the surfaces.

Syntax

arcpy.aviationois.FAA18B(in_features, runway_type, highend_clear_way_length, lowend_clear_way_length, airport_elevation, include_merged_surface, out_features)
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_features

The input runway dataset. The feature class must be z-enabled and contain points, polylines, or polygons.

Feature Layer
runway_type

The runway classification of in_features.

  • NON_VERTICAL_GUIDANCE_TYPE_1 —A runway designed for visual maneuvers, nonvertically guided operations, and instrument departure procedures.
  • NON_VERTICAL_GUIDANCE_TYPE_2 —A specially prepared hard surface (SPHS) runway designed for visual maneuvers, nonvertically guided operations, and instrument departure procedures. SPHS runways have a primary surface that extends 200 feet beyond each end of the runway.
  • VERTICAL_GUIDANCE —A runway that uses precision guidance systems to support aircraft approach and landing.
String
highend_clear_way_length

The length of the area at the high end of the runway, in feet. An aircraft can make a portion of its initial climb over this area.

Double
lowend_clear_way_length

The length of the area at the low end of the runway, in feet. An aircraft can make a portion of its initial climb over this area.

Double
airport_elevation

The highest point on any runway in an airport, in feet. The units for elevation are based on the specification. The tool will automatically populate this value from a z-value in your aeronautical database if you are using the AIS or Airports data model. Airport elevation is stored in the z-value of the ADHP point feature class in the AIS data model. In the Airports data model, elevation is stored in the z-value of the Airport Control Point feature class for records with the Point_Type field populated with AIRPORT_ELEVATION.

Double
include_merged_surface

Indicates whether merged horizontal and conical surfaces are included in the OIS, in addition to the regular surfaces.

  • INCLUDE_MERGED_SURFACE —Include merged surfaces in the OIS output. This is the default.
  • NOT_INCLUDE_MERGED_SURFACE —Do not include merged surfaces in the OIS output.
Boolean
out_features

The output feature class or TIN that will contain the generated obstacle identification surfaces.

Feature Layer; Folder

Code sample

FAA18B example (stand-alone Python script)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the FAA18B tool.

import arcpy

# set gp environment
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Aeronautical")

# Input Runway Feature Class
inFeatures = "C:\data\ois.gdb\RunwayCenterline"

# Feature class that will contain the OIS surface
outFeatures="C:\data\ois.gdb\ObstructionIdSurface"

# Airport variables
runway = "Vertical Guidance"
airportElev = 100

# Generate FAA1B OIS
arcpy.FAA18B_aviationois(inFeatures,runway,10,0,airportElev,
                      "INCLUDE_MERGED_SURFACE",outFeatures)
arcpy.CheckInExtension("Aeronautical")

Environments

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: Requires Airports or Aviation Charting
  • Advanced: Requires Airports or Aviation Charting

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