Ignoring declared distances on a private flight at a licensed aerodrome

[NorthSouth]

I've never been clear about the regulatory provisions for conducting private flights into/out of licensed aerodromes.

If a licensed aerodrome has a runway with a displaced threshold, but where the portion of the runway before the displaced threshold is still part of the runway strip, is it permissible for a private flight to land on the section of the runway before the threshold?

Similarly, if a licensed aerodrome has a runway with a reduced takeoff distance, but where the portion of the runway before the start of the Take-Off Run Available is still part of the runway strip, is it permissible for a private flight to start its takeoff from the threshold rather than the start of the TORA?

Or do all flights in/out of a licensed aerodrome have to comply with the declared distances irrespective of the status of the flight?

NS

[goatface]

Declared distances are always there for a reason which may not always be readily evident, but usually its due to an obstruction of some kind, or occassionally an unsuitable surface.

For example displaced thresholds are often in place because of public roads (occassionally footpaths as well), neither of which may be necessarily visible until you see a car, bus or lorry on the road when you are missing it by a matter of feet trying to "land short".
A reduced take off distance can be imposed for the same reason.

Whether the aerodrome is licensed or not, it is:

1. A big risk to ignore declared distances, doing so may invalidate your insurance if you have a prang or if you damage someone/something else.

2. A major discourtesy to the local aviation community. The airfield owner may have had to impose the declared distances as part of a local planning agreement to get the aerodrome up and running, and/B]
to keep it going.

I dare say that the reg's are all part of the ANO etc, but ignoring the few rules that airfield operators [B]have to impose buggers everyone's pleasure.

[Rod1]

It depends on the individual airfields operating procedures. You can look them up on the web (for all licensed aerodromes). The displaced threshold may be just for aircraft requiring the use of a licensed runway, in which case the local procedure will explain that you can ignore the line if you do not need a licensed runway. The local procedure may also allow the use of the unlicensed portion of the runway with prior permission. There are so many variations that it is hard to be specific, but if you land short at Oban (for example) you will get reported to the CAA!

Rod1

[Sir George Cayley]

One can delve a little deeper with the help of that best seller CAP 168 Aerodrome Licensing.

The landing phase and its effect on threshold is a good starting point. First off, what's the angle of descent of your aircraft in normal configuration? You don't know do you?

Well CAP 168 is looking out for you. TOCS and APPS are there to ensure that whatever length of runway, an Obstacle Limitation Surface will be in place.

The simple drgs give a false sense of scale. so you need a good imagination to interpret them. What you come to realise quite quickly is that the average SE a/c can plummet at a far greater rate of descent (and therefore angle) than is allowed for.

Similarly, unless 4 up with fuel in a small 4 seater, most a/c can out climb the Take off Climb Surface for that runway.

So, if your flight does not require a licensed runway my advice would be to assess the conditions, do the weight and balance and then use whatever available surface you require. But, have in mind that at a subsequent enquiry your actions may be called into question.

Sir George Cayley