The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has proposed new certification specifications (CS) for aerodrome design to enable modern large airplanes to operate at existing sites.
Modern aircraft have precise guidance systems for landing, take-off and taxiing, meaning that current international and European provisions for designing runways, taxiways and other areas can be lightened without compromising safety. The new proposals take this technological evolution in guidance systems into account.
With the proposed CS, airports could accept large aircraft within their existing infrastructure and therefore increase site capacity, particularly at congested aerodromes. The proposed modification of the aerodrome CS could generate significant cost savings for the aerodrome infrastructure. Construction and maintenance costs of runways, runway shoulders, and taxiways could be reduced due to the proposed provisions.
Airlines could also benefit from the proposed changes as they would be able to operate large planes from more aerodromes and to better plan their network.
Changes could also have positive environmental benefits thanks to more efficient use of available land and reduced consumption of construction materials for infrastructure.
The public consultation on the Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) ends on May 31, 2017. EASA will review the comments received and prepare its decision.
