Introduction

Aerodrome Safeguarding is the process by which aerodrome operators ensure the airspace around the aerodrome is safe for aircraft. An element of process is used to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place when considering any development or change in activity in close proximity to an Aerodrome. The Town and Country Planning (Safeguarded Aerodromes, Technical Sites and Military Explosives Storage Areas) Direction of 2002 refers.

Within the Direction, forty officially safeguarded aerodromes (including Airports) in the UK are identified. Leicester Aerodrome is not amongst them. In common with the vast majority of the UK’s aerodromes, special consideration is required to protect its established operations as a place of intense aerial activity.

The purpose of this safeguarding arrangement is to ensure that all developments within the area around Leicester Aerodrome do not compromise the safety of aircraft and persons using the Aerodrome and its surrounding airspace. Further, it is vital that developers know in advance of the need to take the presence of the aerodrome into account when developing their proposals. We would also respectfully suggest that such considerations form part of the respective Local Planning Authorities’ search results.

The following plan sets out the areas of concern and lists within them applications which should be referred to the Aerodrome for consideration and comment.

Location

The Aerodrome’s ARP (Aerodrome Reference Point) is located at Latitude: 523628N Longitude: 0010155W

Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2.

Proposed Areas

In order of size, a total of three areas, based upon simple circles, are proposed, including the extant Map. In addition, ten roughly triangular areas cover the approach and departure areas for each of the Aerodrome’s runway directions. Each area and the applications of concern within them are identified below.

Area A, a red circle of a radius of 3,700m (2nm) centred on the ARP.

Applications of Concern:

• Developments or Structures in excess of 45m in height.
  • Covers the potential risk of the creation of an obstacle which will endanger aircraft.
• Applications for the establishment of an Aerodrome or Heliport
  • Considerable co-ordination may be required between Leicestershire Aero Club and any new Aerodrome in order to manage aeronautical considerations.
• Proposed new tree planting – large forestry or similar schemes
• Significant housing or industrial facility development – development areas greater than 900m² are of interest, regardless of the maximum elevation in the development
• Waste Management Facilities not fully contained within a building
• Creation of bodies of water such as reservoirs, lakes, ponds, wetlands and marshes.
• Nature Reserves and Bird Sanctuaries
• Sewerage Disposal, treatment and plants.
• Quarries and Mineral Extraction

All of the above applications may result in increased bird and wildlife activity and therefore risk of bird-strike or runway incursion.

• Model Aircraft and UAV Flying sites
• Solar Farms
• • Risks posed by potential Glint and Glare
  • Potential for increased Bird Activity

• 5G and other radiotelephony Masts
  • Potential for interference with Navigation and other Aeronautical systems.

Area B, a blue circle of a radius of 1.35nm (2,500m) centred on code 2 runway and ARP

Applications of Concern:

• ALL applications for new Construction, with expected elevations above 15m.
  • In addition to the potential for creation of an obstacle by taller structures, the reduction of open areas and farmland will also limit the options for a forced landing in the event of propulsion failure or other emergency.
• ALL Change of Use Applications
  • The potential for a change of use to increase the risk of bird and wild life activity along with other issues identified.
• ALL Cranes and temporary Structures
  • CAA Regulations require all Crane Operators to make an application and have positive confirmation from Leicestershire Aero Club before erection. Applicants who do not do so will, it is to be assumed, apply to the relevant Local Authority. Cranes can present an obstacle to aircraft.
• ALL applications for tethered balloons.
  • Tethered balloons will present an obstacle, potentially and their maximum height Above Ground Level will be considered when assessing the risks they may pose.
• Solar Farms
  • In addition to the potential issues identified in Area B and Area C, solar farms in close proximity also result in the reduction of open areas and farmland in the event of a forced landing.
• Distracting Lights (eg. Nightclubs)
  • The Aerodrome has planning permission for operations after dark. Applications which result in high intensity and/or flashing lights may cause a distraction to pilots. By way of example, a poorly planned street lighting scheme adjacent to a runway resulted in a pilot lining up to land on the street.
• Balloon Releases
  • Whilst mass balloon releases (including airborne lanterns) have greatly reduced due to environmental concerns, such releases would pose a threat to air traffic and, where the councils are informed of such activity, we would be obliged to know.

Take-off/ Landing Zones

 

There are ten triangular areas, two orange and eight yellow, which emanate from each of the licensed runway directions used at Leicester Aerodrome. These zones are created using the widest range of likely departure and arrival paths taken by aircraft and increase in vertical height from their respective inner edges as described below.

Applications of concern

Any structure (temporary or permanent) which may penetrate the surfaces described below

 

Take-off/ Landing Zone Colour	Inner Edge Width (m)	Vertical Height at Inner Edge (m)	Outer Edge Width (m)	Slope	Vertical Height at Outer Edge (m)
Orange	80	Local ground level	580	4% / 1:25	100
Yellow	60	Local ground level	380	5% / 1:20	80

 

Contact

For all enquiries and further discussion contact the Leicestershire Aero Club Aerodrome Manager

T: (0116) 2592360. email: admin@leicesterairport.com

Figure 1:

Figure 2: