We are putting together out Statement of Work to submit to the FAA and one of the requirements in the airspace analysis is to locate the ATC tower Cab floor. Anyone have any idea of the procedure(s) for this? Can't find it in the advisory circulars.
I've done a fair share of Airport work lately and I don't remember anything about ATC tower locations in any of the survey related AC's.
I would say use your normal standard of care that you would follow for private work. Since you've read those AC's you know that the FAA's accuracy standards are quite "loose" compared to any competent surveyor's.
Yeah, they aren't specific at all until the NGS gets involved. There was airside construction on a runway and that has triggered the FAA to ask for everything to be sumbitted to the Airport GIS program... basically a week of work has turned into a month and a half. not complaining, but what a PITA... AC 18B table 2-1
Howdy,
Are you sure they do not mean: determine the height of the control tower cab floor? This obviously must be done by conventional (not GPS) methods like trigonometric leveling. I sure would ot rely on GPS from within the cab. Not sure how this height is used.
Getting permission to place a prism reflector in the cab (and measuring the offset from the cab floor) may be harder than doing the work.
The prism needs to be visible from the ground (hopefully from a control point). Clear view to the prism is essential. I'd do a closed loop as a check.
Cheers,
DMM
ATC Is Generally Within The "AOA"
Air Operations Area.
About 20 years ago the company I worked for got a contract to supply survey and stakeout for construction of a new Air Traffic Control tower. Most of the work as within the AOA. The survey crew had to receive specific training and an airport photo ID. The boss decided to specify a 2 man crew and since I worked in an office within a few miles of the project, I was airport trained and IDed as the backup man should one of the others call in sick. Best part of that was getting to see Air Force One do touch and go landing practice from up close. When within the AOA the crew had to be in radio contact with the tower.
All that is probably much harder now.
I am pretty certain that no towers have windows that open, so you will be shooting thru multiple panes. I doubt that Homeland Security would take kindly to you shooting a laser at or near the tower windows.
I would say your best bet is to request design and as-built information, then verify.
Paul in PA
yeah, thats exactly what they mean and what i meant to say. It obviously has to be done conventional. I have a feeling that homeland security won't let us go up the tower, let alone let us give one of the controllers a prism and rod to somehow hold it. Looks like we are going to use the ALP which lists the cab floor elevation and turn angles to it from the PACS/SACS.